My first encounter with spirit.

I was just a little girl, maybe five years old, but I will never forget my first remembered encounter with the other side.

At the time I was lucky enough to be living in an old chateau in Orléans, France. It was formerly the home of the foreman who oversaw the farm that Madame Aubèrt now owned. Madame was a bit feisty, but very kind to me and very, very French.

It was 1958. Our home was extremely old and very cold. The walls, as I remember them, were made of stone held tightly together with mortar. There was a small kitchen and the living room had this marvelous old fireplace.

The pumpkins all seemed so huge to me and watching the men and boys toss them into the hay filled wagon for market, as if they were light as a feather, seemed an impossible feat.

The second story of our house began at the end of a very long, narrow and dark staircase. So narrow was this staircase that I could reach my little arms out and touch the walls on both the left and right sides. This was helpful since there was only one banister for a little one like me to hold on to.

Night after night I would wrestle with my little girl fears of the dark and then one night something special happened. Something that I will never forget.

It was a cool, clear, spring evening and after getting in bed I remember seeing what I thought was the moon shining through my window. It couldn't have been, though, because it seemed to keep getting brighter and brighter. A childhood feeling of great apprehension came over me and I buried myself completely within the covers, tightly hugging my Rupert bear.

All of a sudden, it seemed as if my entire room filled with this beautiful bright light and even though I heard no voices, I began to feel safe, warm and loved. Safe enough to peek from under the covers. Safe enough to sit up in my bed and look directly at this beautiful light. It didn't seem to form a solid object. The light was wispy, like that of smoke.

As quickly as it began all of a sudden my room was dark once again. Rather than try to figure it out, I drifted off to sleep.

The next day I didn't tell my parents - as a little child I lived a rather solitary existence and felt that they might think that these were the dreams of a wildly imaginative child so I said nothing.

The next night was a replay of the one before. I was snuggled in bed with my Teddy then, once again, the bright light came and entered my room. This time, however, I truly felt safe and warm for the first time in my life.

The light hovered at my window for what seemed like forever then very slowly came closer to me. It was as if it didn't want to frighten me. The closer it came the more I was able to see that there appeared to be soft, sweet and gentle faces within this cloud of light. I saw a hand reach out towards me and I remember putting my little hand within hers. I kept thinking that there were two people - not just one - within this light.

As gently as they had entered my room, they guided me from my bed to the bedroom doorway. My parents were very light sleepers and I remember being afraid that I might awaken them and yet, these beautiful ladies assured me that there was nothing to fear. At least that was the sensation I recall.

We went to the top of the stairs and I was amazed. There were banisters down the staircase on the right and left sides.

They stayed behind me and held both of my hands, guiding them to each banister. Then all of a sudden I felt my legs lift off of the floor. I wasn't scared at all and found myself floating down the staircase to the base of the steps. When we reached the bottom we turned around and up we went back to my room in the same manner in which we had gone down the stairs - floating. I climbed back into bed and the light disappeared.

The next morning I hopped out of bed anxious to tell my parents about the banisters but when I looked down the staircase there was only one. At that point I decided to not tempt fate and opted to not tell either of my parents. This would truly be, and has remained, my very special of secrets. My ghostly friends came to me almost every night for a very long time and we played together until we moved from the chateau.

I've been told that my father's mother was a dear and gentle soul and had passed before I was born. The one thing my family spoke of often was that she had wanted desperately to live long enough to get to know me. I so wish she had because she and I have such a special connection.

When much older I had readings from a psychic on several occasions and she told me that my paternal grandmother was always with me. "She stands to the left and behind you," she said. "She will always protect you from harm and guide your through all torment. She's been with you since you were a little girl in France."

Was she one of my ghosts? Could my grandmother, whom I had always wanted to meet and play with, be that beautiful bright light that came to me so very many years ago?

I have not had that experience since leaving Madame Aubèrt's farm. But since then, I have always felt that there was definitely someone watching over me. Now, whenever I find myself in rough situations, I look over my left shoulder and call upon my grandmother, my special angel, for help and guidance. And every time I have called for help I have always felt this warm, beautiful feeling of love and safety surround me, something I rarely felt as a child from many, other than my father, in the physical form.

My father has many times said that I often have the exact facial expressions of his mother. Now, when I wish to connect with the other side, I will sit in the most precious piece of furniture I own....the rocking chair that belonged to my nana. Her picture sits on my mantel where I can easily view it from her chair.

Precognition

In the mid-sixties I lived in Virginia, a place I still call home. My aunt and uncle lived in Canada and uncle Wilf had been ill for quite some time.

One morning we received a call from auntie Louie informing us that uncle Wilf had crossed over. Within a few days I was in Ontario for his service.

The night before my uncle was buried I had the most vivid of dreams. I was shown the chapel, cemetery, the hearse and my uncle's coffin draped in a massive bouquet of bright red carnations. While standing near the back of the hearse, watching the pallbearers remove the coffin, a single carnation fell from the bouquet and landed at my feet.

To my amazement I heard my uncle's voice say "Pick it up. It is for you to remember me by."

The next morning we went to my uncle's funeral. As I stood near the rear of the hearse the pallbearers began to remove his coffin and it was draped in a beautiful bouquet of red carnations. All of a sudden a single flower fell from the bouquet and landed by my feet, just as I had seen in my dream the night before. Without hesitation I picked it up.

To this day I don't particularly care for red carnations.

Pet reincarnation

By May of 1975 I was a newly wed young woman living in a small trailer in a wheat field on outskirts of a small town called St. George. Having been uprooted from the activity of my life in Florida to travel to the mid-west to be with my husband who was stationed at Ft. Riley I was unaccustomed to being without friends and pets of any kind.

On wash day I would hang my clothes on a makeshift drying line strung from various poles and trees nearby. The breeze was so strong that by the time I finished the next load what I had hung out was already dry.

During a trip to hang clothes I heard the soft mewing of a small kitty. I dropped everything to seek out the source and found a tiny little calico kitten wedged in a tree I had used for drying-line support. Forgetting everything I was doing I did what I had to do in order to help the baby creature get out of the tree.

“Princess” immediately became my best of friends. She would climb onto my shoulder and drape herself there for hours on end as I walked about. She nibbled gently on my earlobe and purred non-stop. Our love blossomed rapidly as my husband became more and more distant.

In July of 1975 I learned I was pregnant and Princess became even closer to me. My husband had begun slapping me around and protecting my unborn child and my dear Princess became my complete priority in life. The only family I had was in Florida and I was far too far away to escape so I had to wait until the time was right to save us all.

One morning, about six weeks into my pregnancy, I had apparently not done what I'd been told well enough and my husband blew a fuse. He grabbed me by the hair, threw me to the floor, sat on my stomach and pounded away at my chest until I felt ribs breaking. I was screaming as loud as I could but there was no one to hear me except my Princess.

Out of nowhere Princess flew into the room, jumped on my husband’s back and began biting and scratching him until he stopped beating me. She then ran off to hide, having saved me and my baby any further trauma.

About two hours later my landlord showed up and when she saw me lying on the floor she panicked and called the rescue squad. I was transported to the hospital where the massive bruising on my chest proved to be from broken ribs. I kept telling them that my cat had saved my life and they looked at me as if I was nuts.

Needless to say, after a few months I had a healthy baby girl, he was transferred to Korea and Princess, my baby and I moved back to Florida where I immediately obtained a divorce.

Fast forward..... In 1986 my new husband decided that cats should be outdoors so he booted my Princess outside...something she had never had to deal with.

On March 15, 1986 he and I were arguing badly so I dashed to my car with the kids in order to escape. Princess had become deaf and I had no clue she was next to the rear tire of my car. Needless to say when I backed out I ran over my dearest friend in the world. My husband refused to allow me to bury her in our back yard and I was totally destroyed inside.

Six weeks later a woman showed up with an adorable female calico kitty. I couldn't believe how much the kitty looked like my Prinny. I gladly accepted the new baby in my life and made it clear she would stay in the house.

I named my new kitty Wil-Dee (Wilderness Kitty) because she loved watching Saturday Night Live - especially the Wilderness Comedian skit. As she grew older she began to show me that she was my Prinny returned to me. She would drape herself over my shoulder like a furry bird and nibble on my earlobe...everything my Prinny had done.

In 1999 my youngest daughter, Dawn, blessed us with our first grandchild and I made arrangements to travel down to St. Petersburg to be with her for a few days. As I was feeding the kitties the morning of my trip I heard "I won't be here when you get back." I turned and looked at my 13 cats and said "OK....which one of you said that?" At that point Wil-Dee jumped on my shoulder and purred, giving me little kisses and rubbing her cheek on my face.

I sat down and asked her to wait until I returned before she left and I then heard her say "No, my job in now complete. You are safe, happy and with a good man. If I leave when you return from the joy of your new grandbaby then it will ruin everything so I will not be in my physical body by the time you get back."

I hugged and kissed her, told her I loved her so much. Thanked her for returning and then said goodbye to her.

When I returned from my trip Dan told me he had some horrible news. I hadn't mentioned what Wil-Dee had said to me before I left and he was at a loss as to how to tell me Wil-Dee had died. Before he could say a word I said "Wil-Dee died didn't she?" "How'd you know?" he asked. "She told me she was leaving before I left last week so I was prepared." Poor Dan...I should have told him. But bless Wil-Dee's heart....she was in my life from 1975 to 1999 and I loved every moment of it.

Princess (left) 3/75 - 3/15/86

Wil-Dee (right) 3/15/86 - 5/4/99

Spirit

In 1988 my neighbor, Kathy, had done a very stupid thing and mixed a combination of drugs which sent her physical body into transition. She fought her destiny valiantly but after a week of lingering in intensive care she finally gave into crossing over.

I had left the hospital prior to her crossing and was sitting on my front porch, with my dog Beau, late that night. Everyone else was sound asleep but I knew something would happen and couldn't sleep a wink. When I saw an ambulance slowly pass my home it hit me that Kathy had died...I just knew it....and they were taking her remains to the morgue.

I walked in the house and heard "Hi Deb....I'm ok now" coming from the hallway. At first I thought I was losing it but when Beau ran to the hall, wagging her tail, and then looked back at me almost smiling I knew that Kathy had come to say goodbye to us. At that point I was so at peace for her and promised, as I had told her I would if anything ever happened, that I would take care of her plants.

To this day I still have one of her plants spreading its life all over my back yard.

Blessed be Kathy. Rest in peace my friend.

Precognition

July 17, 1996, 8:45 PM. Am overwhelmed by the presence of someone I haven't had contact with since high school - 1971. Jim Hull appears to me to say one word..."Goodbye." I am overcome with sadness and see a plane crashing in water.

The next day I read that TWA #800 had crashed into the Atlantic off Long Island and I felt drawn to locate a passenger list.

When I located a list...James Hull, age 48 and a off-duty TWA employee had died during the crash. Was this the Jim I knew so long ago? It may have been. He was 5 years older than me and in 1996 I was only 43.

Spirit

After the children grew and went on to live their lives my husband and I decided to put the house up for sale and move to our property in the forest.

We chose a large and lovely manufactured home and went through all the motions needed in order to prepare the area for the installation. I asked permission of the forest to remove any trees that might need to be taken down and promised the forest that I would replant at least one tree for every one removed. I held up to that promise.

After we settled into our new home I began to get reacquainted with my old computer...a 4 byte dinosaur of a machine that took forever to boot up. My morning ritual began with turning on the computer and then feeding the animals, knowing that by the time I had completed my chores the machine would be ready to roll.

All things worked just fine until one day when everything went wonky on me. Dan was still home and I walked into the bedroom to check email. When I got to the computer it was off. Something that couldn't happen with just a push of a button....either a sequence of buttons needed to be pushed or it had to be unplugged for that to occur.

I looked at the wall socket and the plug was in so I rebooted the machine and went back to where Dan was sitting....a little befuddled and curious about what was going on. Dan asked what had happened and I told him.

A bit later I went back in the room and the machine was off again. I then smelled a distinct aroma of cigar smoke and felt as if someone was with me in the room. I rebooted again, went back to Dan and asked if he was smoking a cigar. Of course he wasn't but I had to ask anyway.

Once again he asked me what was wrong and I told him. His first reaction was that I was experiencing cabin fever but I knew otherwise.

Again I went back into the room and AGAIN the machine was off. All I could think to do was yell out "OK...I've had enough! Stop playing games with me...it's not funny any longer." I then heard laughter and smelled a VERY strong aroma of cigar smoke.

By then Dan had left for work and I was able to finally sit down and answer my email. All of a sudden the candle I had lit was blown out, the closet door opened and the stink of cigar smoke became apparent. I turned and there sitting on the bed was a beautiful elderly African American man. He was wearing a slightly askew white wide-brimmed hat with black crown band, a crisp white shirt with the sleeves rolled to just below his elbows and dark trousers. He had a huge cigar in the corner of his mouth and the biggest grin on his face I have ever seen.

I said hello to him and asked if he was the one playing games with my computer. He said nothing but nodded his head. I then asked him if he would please stop doing that to me. Again he nodded.

I got the immediate impression that he was just passing through and so I asked if he would go on to the light but if he needed help I would do my best. Again he smiled and nodded.

The man only came back one more time - the next morning - and then he left forever.

Spirit

I cannot recall the date of these occurrences.

Shortly after we moved her in '97 I was sitting at my computer. All of a sudden I heard "Go to the gate." I ignored it but it became louder and more insistent so I got up and wandered the 10th of a mile to our gate.

Once there I stopped and said "OK...I'm here, now what?"

"Look down" was all I heard.

At my feet was an extremely old arrow head...actually a spear point. I gently picked it up, thanked whomever had guided me to it and brought it back to the house where it remains in a place of honor.

Within a week I really thought I was losing it. I was looking out our sliding glass doors and literally saw a band of Indians. In the forefront was a very handsome male covered with tattoos. I went to grab my camera but when I went out back to visit with the tribe of First Nation folks they had vanished.

#  #  #  #

Dan and I would spend evenings sitting on our front porch listening to the wilderness sounds at night.

At one point I got up to use the powder room in our bedroom. Dan was still on the porch and as I was about to leave our bedroom I saw a man walk from the front door and into our dining room. He glanced and smiled at me as he wandered through the house. I called out for Dan and he answered from the porch. I asked if he had just walked into the house and he said no.

I then looked in the dining room and no one was there.

Precognition

9:30 PM, Wednesday September 2, 1998 - Am overcome with a tremendous feeling of a plane going down over water - in the northern area of the world.

Later a news broadcast stated that at 9:25 PM Swissair #111 had gone down off the coast of Halifax, Nova Scotia, 229 souls lost.

Animal spirit

In December of '97 my daughter Jennifer and I were walking down the road and found a little black puppy. He followed us home and became a new member of the family...a little tyke we named Brutus.

As time went on he became a little difficult despite the love and attention we lavished on him.

In 2000 he began to bite and then attack as if the alpha male in him was taking over. By May of 2001 we knew we didn't have much choice but to put him down as he had taken a huge chunk of flesh out of my arm and cornered me in the closet. Sadly, after tremendous soul-searching, we went though with setting him free from his demons.

Brutus loved banging his tail on the dining room wall and had a bad habit of digging a hole at the base of our back deck steps.

One day, while walking down the back steps, I noticed a hole right where Brutie-Brut would dig so I filled it in. A bit later I went out to feed our dogs and happened to turn around - just had a feeling I should. When I looked at the steps in the distance I was stunned. There was sand flying everywhere, a hole appearing right where Brutie would dig and no one was visible. I again filled in the hole and went about my business.

That evening Dan and I were relaxing in the living room and we heard a noise...a rhythmic banging on the dining room wall. Dan looked at me and said "What's that?" All I could do was smile and say "Brutie." "Oh sure.....first you see a phantom dog digging a hole and now he's in the house banging his tail on the wall."

Off Dan went to seek out the mysterious noise maker. He looked everywhere possible but couldn't find a thing anywhere. When he walked back into the room his face was ashen. "If that's Brutus he needs to make the noise again so I'll believe it's him." With that the banging immediately began and Dan plopped in his chair saying nothing further for the rest of the night.

Brutus kept it up for several weeks and it eventually stopped.

Spirit

February 3, 1999 4:10 PM. Am overwhelmed by the presence of a young man. Tall, slender, nice eyes, appears gentle with dark blonde/light brown hair. Has bangs on his forehead with no parting in the hair.

He approaches me with such sadness regarding Jon Benet Ramsey. "If I could have a sister...if I could have a little girl I wish it was you...I'd like it to be you...I love you as if you were my own little sister."

He gave me the feeling he had been in the home several times but not many recently. He watched...loved her....didn't want it to happen...couldn't help himself....couldn't stop and had to do it. Can't live with it much longer...have to tell or die. "How could I hurt what I loved so much?"

Is this the face of her killer? I do not know but felt compelled to sketch out the face I was shown.

Spirit

July 4, 2000, 9:07 PM, my sweet father-in-law crossed over suddenly. Dan was at the hospital 3 hours away and I was home alone.

10:42 PM: My dogs begin to act strangely. Buddy starts a very low and soft "woof-woof"; Brutus awakens abruptly, looks around and then goes back to sleep.

10:45 PM: Again Buddy lets out several low "woof-woof" sounds. Brutus awakens again and goes into the computer room and also begins a low, quiet "woof-woof" sound.

Brutus then walks into the living room, looks at me, cocks his head to the side, wanders to the door and sits in front of the locked front door as if someone is out there.

Buddy comes into the living room as well. He, too, cocks his head, looks at me and goes to sit next to Brutus in front of the door. Both stare at the peep hole and I become unnerved a bit.

I sense (am literally told) to go out onto the front porch. I opened the door and both dogs follow me outside and sit quietly on either side of me.

In total darkness I then heard Lee's voice very softly.

"I came to you because you are the only one." I understood this to mean that I'm the only one who could hear him and know what to do.

"Marge's faith keeps her strong. She will be here soon and knows this. I have made sure she will be okay. It is beautiful here. I can hear, too!" Big smile on his face - he was virtually deaf before he died.

I apologize for not being there when he crossed over, "That's not a problem. My body was worn and it was time to leave. I am at peace. Don't dwell on not being with my physical being when I left."

"Dan very much loves you."

"I know. Take care of the boy and tell him to have no concerns about what he's thinking. Everything is all right....no regrets."

"We will miss you."

"I understand. We will meet again. It is beautiful. Please tell Laurie to take life easier. Not to be so hard on herself. Good kids....very good kids....You might gather pictures for the boy. He seems to need this. He must not feel anything was left unsaid. I know....I always knew. He did, too. Prepare them. Marge will join me soon. Her faith is strong...she knows." (On the 40th anniversary of the assassination of President Kennedy my mother-in-law - maiden name Kennedy - crossed over).

"Somehow let them know I am at peace. It is beautiful. I am not in the body you will soon see. But I will be there. You will know this. Show the boy so he will see too."

At that point - on a dead still warm evening - a swift wind picked up and a slight chill filled the air. The dogs got up and went to the door and I followed knowing that Lee had blessed me with his presence on his way to the other side.

Precognition

Saturday June 12, 2004. I awaken from a nap, startled. I was shown massive amounts of blood - splatter everywhere on Dan - upper chest, on his face, closet door. I asked Dan, in my half awake state, why he was covered with blood. He was incredibly startled and wiped his face. At that point my vision disappeared. Dan was so shocked and asked what was going on. I had no clue.

As our old dog Buddy had a massive tumor on his chest I began to wonder if this was a precognitive vision. Then I received my answer.

At 10:03 AM, June 17, 2004, Buddy's tumor blew out and there was massive blood everywhere....all over me...my chest, the walls, everywhere. The dear one crossed over in my arms.

Animal communication

I had been involved in closing down a very abusive animal kennel in Canada. One of the Chow-Chows had been dog-napped and hidden away in Iowa. It's owner lived in South Africa and we had finally located the dear animal. Thank goodness for microchips and loose-lipped neighbors - as well as animal loving cops!

I knew the police and our rescue representative were about to save the boy and all of a sudden the dear thing connected with me.

12:00 noon, July 22, 2004. "They're here!!!!!" the dog says to me. He wants to smile but I told him that due to being a dog they might think he's snarling. "Can I at least grin?" "Sure you can....just don't show your teeth....wag your tail!"

1:00 PM: He shows me he's in a vehicle, wind in his hair and he's free. Very happy.

I later learned that the police had gotten there earlier than expected and saved the dog around noon. He is now safely back in South Africa being spoiled rotten.

Precognition

11:30 AM, September 15, 2004. Am in my kitchen thanking the Universe for sparing us harm during hurricane Frances and upcoming Ivan. I am overtaken by sadness and loud words "14 will die!"

September 17, 2004 the Brunswick News releases an article discussing the death toll..."Ivan's unofficial death toll included 14."

Higher level living person-to-person contact

Not too many years ago a dear friend found out she had breast cancer. As she is also an intuitive she set up several of her friends to see if we would connect with her as she was going under the knife. She did not tell us what she planned to do but we all knew the hour and date of her surgery.

At the time of her surgery I was at my kitchen sink. All of a sudden I was overcome with an intense aroma of roses and thoughts of her.

After she recovered she contacted each of us and asked if we had sensed anything. I told her what I had smelled and she said "Deb, you were the only one. The morning of the surgery I showered and put on my favorite fragrance - Attar of roses."

Later she asked me to perform a distance body scan to see if everything had been caught. I sensed a mass and then found an anatomy picture so I could pinpoint it more directly and emailed it to her.

She went in for a check-up and her doctor told her he felt they had gotten it all. However, when he examined her further he found a mass right where I said it was. It was removed and she is fine now.