gone but still with us

A friend texted me recently to ask me what I believe happens at the moment of death. Did I believe in a soul and if so, where did it go? This friend's sister had recently died and my friend had had her hand on her sister's chest when she took her last breath. I took that in for a minute; what a profound experience those sisters had shared.

Then I answered my friend with what I think might maybe possibly happen at the moment of death (knowing full well and admitting that of course I know nothing): "I do believe in a soul and though of course I don't know, I imagine it leaving the body fairly swiftly at death and beginning its amazing and unique journey to...to where? To visit people and places it loves, as a way of saying goodbye, then eventually landing in a place of great rest, wholeness, restoration, and reunion with all those who have gone before." (For the record, not all of my text exchanges are this heavy...I can use emojis with the best of them.)

What's been your experience with people in your life you've loved and lost? Have you felt a connection after they're gone? Have they come to you in a dream, sent you a message, or have you found a tangible item they've clearly left for you?  For me, these past couple of months have been full of stories like this (these are just a few):

• A professional mentor in my life told me in specific detail about the pennies her late mother left around for her and her sister to find; she had told them she would, and they found them everywhere. The pennies stopped showing up for awhile and the sisters worried their connection with their mom was fading...that's when the quarters started appearing instead.
  
  
• A friend told me about her aunt, with whom she was quite close. This aunt had a wooden leg and stood and walked crookedly. She made all of her own clothes and was particularly fond of gingham. Shortly after her aunt died, my friend dreamed her aunt was standing in the corner of her bedroom. Her body was whole, she was standing up straight, and she told my friend she was all right. What sealed the deal for my friend? In the dream, her aunt had on a new pink gingham dress.
  
  
• On a more personal note, our beloved cat of 13 years, Al, died recently. As much as we loved Al and took care of him, he beat us at both hands-down. He was a "lover not a fighter"--he had great relationships with all the other animals he encountered, including the squirrels and birds in our backyard, and our backyard was his favorite place to be.
  
  The day after Al died, while we were still slammed with grief, my husband went out into the backyard to move something. A few minutes later, I happened to look outside and for the first time in my life, rubbed my eyes to make sure I was seeing clearly. There Marty sat on the edge of our deck, with a bird perched on his hand. That bird--that wild bird-- approached Marty, jumped up, sat on his hand, and looked him in the eye for a minute or so before it flew off.  We were stunned by what had happened, but we knew who the message was from, and we were grateful.
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  I'd love to hear your stories of connection with your loved ones; please feel to share in the comments below...or, you know, text me.
  

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