ah, yes. my dad. he comes to me a lot! mostly to tattle on my mother.
she calls him the tattle tail spirit/tattle tail dead guy.
I also have one of a good friend that I grew up with and went all through school with. She was tragically killed by a drunk driver. Even sadder, this drunk driver was only 17yrs old and had been caught so many times driving drunk the state took his license away from him. However, he talked his gf into allowing him to drive her fathers car when the two of them were out on a date. Sad all the way around. Because of his age, nothing was done to him. We were hoping the courts would make him go somewhere to get the help he needed. But he was only 17, so he wasn't even arrested for one minute. He also continued to drink and drive and had been pulled over many times since this tragedy. But after a few years, we stopped following the news on him. I hope he got the help he needed by now...
Anyway, my best friend, "D" was killed at the age of 18. A few months before she'd turn 19 and also a few months before she was to be married. I would've been her maid of honor. I practically lived at her parents house, to the point that it took years before their neighbors realized I was NOT a member of that family--but the best friend of "D".
So, after D's death, I had a very difficult time accepting it and being around her family again. Her father also had a very difficult time. Every time he saw me, he'd begin to cry, as would I. So, I stopped visiting them all together. For many years. It wasn't easy for either of us--and it left a huge hole in my heart, because they were like my family.
Years later, after I was married and had moved away, D came to me in my sleep and I can remember this vividly down to the very last detail. We were sitting together in a park setting, on a bench. I remember while we were sitting together, I was looking around at the park, and it was really beautiful. There was a huge cement statue that was quite tall and lots of names inscribed in it, and across from where she and I sat was another bench, and her parents were sitting there together, watching us and smiling.
"D" told me that I needed to get in touch with her parents. To please do so and to please visit them again and not to be afraid to do so. That we all three needed it to help heal our loss of losing her. Her death was about 10 years prior to this visit.
So, the next time we visited my family, I got my courage together and called them. Her mother answered the phone and was so very happy to hear from me and invited us to a Mass that was being held for D and for other young people in that area who were tragically killed. The Mass was for the next day. So, we left our daughter with my parents for the day, and hubby & I both went to this Mass.
As soon as we drove up, I was shocked! it was the park in my dreams! There were the two benches across from each other and the huge tall cement tower like structure between them with the names inscribed in it! The park was as beautiful as I saw it in my dream and just the same! I was shaking as we parked the car, got out and walked to where the Mass was being held. "Ds" mother saw us coming, and had two seats saved for us next to them and the others in their family. After the Mass, Ds mom walked me over to the tower to see "Ds" name inscribed in it and she told me the story of how this park came to be.
Ds mother and dad and a group of other parents whose children were killed tragically--either in terrible accidents like D was in or murdered, got together and bought this particle of land, a few acres--maybe like 10 total. They had the tower constructed first with the names inscribed in it and every year, any parent who wished to include their child in there, was able to have their child's name put on the tower as well. if the parents couldn't afford to pay for it--it was taken care of. No one was turned away for lack of monies. The park was and still to this day kept up by the parents and families of these poor dead kids. Flowers and bushes and trees are planted and once a year, a special Catholic Mass (and probably others, but I only know of the Catholic one) is said there in rememberance of them.
I am once again a 'member'/the "lost" daughter of this family and very close to them. All because their daughter, my sister/friend was able to come to me in spirit and help me to find the courage to reconnect to them. It was her final gift to me that continues to keep on giving to me. I cry every time I think of this visit, and am crying now as I type it.
Now, when I go 'home', it includes a visit to her parents home and also one to her gravesite. I try to go once a year, but as I now live so far away, it doesn't happen every year anymore. But, whenever I do go 'home', I visit both them and her gravesite.
I did share with her mother how D came to me that one night in my dreams and how she convinced me to be in touch again. I am so very grateful that she did this for me/for us.
Now, I hope others will share their stories. Please do!!!
