Embracing the Spirits: True Stories of My Encounters With the Other Side (19 page)

riences, when I have been fortunate enough to hear so many

incredible stories from so many others. Below are some such

accounts, which sneak into my headspace often when I least

expect them …

Iced Coffee

Attending an interview at my daughter’s prospective school

seemed like a fairly ordinary way to spend a Thursday morn-

ing, until the spirit world wormed its way in to strip away the mundane.

The school registrar methodically worked her way through

the standard check-list of questions, until somehow the con-

versation turned to three recent deaths in the school commu-

nity. Along with two students’ parents, one of those who had

passed away was the school bus-driver; a much loved larrikin

named Eric. Eric had been an integral part of the school for

fifteen years and his death had left both the staff and students devastated. As well as his generosity and devotion to the stu-The Interactions of Others 157

dents, Eric was well known for his robust appearance and pas-

sion for iced coffee.

Given that Eric had passed away only a week or so ear-

lier, the registrar was still shaken by the news of his death. She spoke of him with undisguised emotion.

“He’ll be a very hard act to follow,” she said sadly.

Then almost as if on cue, a bright light flashed at me from

an empty chair by the door. It was the same light I had seen

just a few night’s earlier; again, when my husband I were talking about Eric.

Stuart was preparing to write a comment on Eric’s Face-

book tribute page, and wanted to know whether what he pro-

posed to write was appropriate or not. I asked him what he

had in mind.

“Something along the lines of
Now you can drink as many

iced coffees as you like!”
said Stuart. “What do you think?”

I couldn’t help laughing, but my first thought was that per-

haps Stu’s comment was verging on the disrespectful. Poor

Eric had indeed been a hefty man in life, so the comment could perhaps be perceived as a not so subtle gibe at his weight.

“I do like it, but I’m not sure if it’s appropriate …”

Stu agreed and we were about to leave it at that when sud-

denly the bright light appeared beside him.

Flash!

“Ummm … hang on,” I said. “I think Eric actually likes it!”

Flash!

“Eric, you liked that comment about the iced coffee, did

you?”

Flash!

I told Stu what I was seeing and we both began to laugh,

it was the first time we had felt happy talking about Eric since 158 The Interactions of Others

his death a week earlier. The more we laughed, the more

strongly we felt Eric’s energy around us. He was enjoying the

joke as much as we were.

As I shared this story with the registrar, I soon discovered

she had some stories of her own.

She told me that it was well known that the administra-

tion building in which we were sitting was haunted; one ghost

in particular pacing the upstairs hallways with predictable regularity. It was believed that one of the nuns who used to teach at the school maintained her routine vigils, checking on the

staff and students alike.

Her presence was especially discernible when the school

fell still, late in the afternoons or by those brave enough to stay behind and work at night. Many staff members heard the old

nun’s footsteps, so patently that they’d be convinced someone

was walking up the stairs. Of course upon investigation, no

one would be there. The nun was also known to tamper with

paper work, sending reams of paper rustling on the desktops,

despite no breath of breeze to have caused them to do so.

Sam

The registrar also shared an incredible personal story, about a young family friend named Sam. Fourteen year-old Sam had

been an avid motocross fan, successfully competing in racing

events ever since he was old enough to ride. Most weekends

would find him at some cross country bike track; indulging his passion for motorbikes and speed.

It was on one such weekend that Sam was killed; fatally

flung from his motorbike midway through a competition. It

was the registrar’s son-in-law who cradled young Sam as he

passed away.

The Interactions of Others 159

Sam’s family were beyond devastated, yet gleaned some

small comfort from the fact that he had been doing what he

loved when he died. As a tribute to Sam’s passion for his sport, they had his motorbike cleaned and polished, and kept it in

Sam’s bedroom. It sat parked beside the bed, Sam’s helmet just alongside it on the bedside table.

Of course his family wanted to believe that Sam was still

a part of their lives, and hoped that he was still connected to them spiritually. They could almost feel his energy around

them, so strongly that they felt convinced young Sam was still around. Yet in weaker moments they couldn’t help worrying

that it was all just a case of wishful thinking.

This notion was soon to be dispelled, as it wasn’t long

before they were blessed with a gift that proved Sam’s pres-

ence beyond a doubt.

The family decided to take some photos of Sam’s room, as

they wanted to share them with their family and friends. The

photographs were to honour Sam and commemorate both a

life cut short and his passion for motocross. They suspected

Sam would be more than a little pleased that his beloved

motorbike had somehow been allowed to assume a prized

position in his bedroom; it was a nod to the sport he had held so dear. It was an unspoken sign that his parents didn’t blame the sport or his motor bike for their son’s death; they accepted Sam’s fate as his destiny, or at worst just tragically bad luck.

Taking the photographs had been bittersweet, as despite

the relentless pain of their loss, Sam’s family couldn’t help thinking that he would be looking on approvingly. They didn’t

dare imagine that their suspicions would be spectacularly con-

firmed when they came to download the photos. It was almost

more than they could fathom.

160 The Interactions of Others

Reflected in the visor of Sam’s helmet, beamed a famil-

iar, happy face; there was no question at all that it was Sam!

Barely able to comprehend the image before them, his family

scoured the bedroom for a logical explanation, but there was

none to be found. There were no photos which could have

been reflected in the visor; no other boys present who could’ve been mistaken for Sam. They had no choice but to embrace

the unbelievable, the photograph really had been of Sam!

It was the best gift they ever could have hoped for and gave

Sam’s family a great deal of comfort. I have no doubt that

being able to appear for his parents went a long way in consoling Sam too.

Nikki and Nigel

Since first hearing Sam’s story, I’ve been privy to similar examples of post-death visits time and time again. Departed loved ones often go to great lengths to assure those left behind that their spirit lives on. This is never more true than when someone dies prematurely, possibly leaving the earth plane before

their designated time. Which brings me to the story about

Nigel; another beautiful soul who called by to visit a loved one for a final goodbye.

Nigel’s sister Nikki is a very dear friend, despite the fact

we have never met in person. We were introduced by my sis-

ter-in-law Fiona, who assured us that we were kindred spir-

its and would have much in common. Our on-line friendship

blossomed from the first email we exchanged. Despite living

on opposite sides of the world, we immediately fell into the

easy rapport usually reserved for the most intimate of friends.

We readily exchanged our secrets with little reservation. It was obvious from the first that I had found a lifelong friend.

The Interactions of Others 161

Nikki is highly spiritual, with a catalogue of paranormal

encounters which easily rival my own. She has a sensitivity

which seems to be becoming progressively more heightened,

as her innate sixth sense becomes more finely tuned with

every passing year.

Given her sensitivity, it wasn’t surprising that Nikki was

filled by a sense of intense dread on the night her brother

Nigel passed away.

Nikki and her husband Jean Pierre were hosting their

annual staff party, when some time around midnight, Nikki

was overcome by an overwhelming sense of trepidation. She

was convinced it had something to do with Nigel. She horri-

fied herself by the words which impulsively sprung from her

mouth, bringing with them an intense feeling of nausea. Icy

fingers seemed to travel down her spine.

“Nigel’s dead!” she gasped.

Jean Pierre tried to reassured his stricken wife, reasoning

that Nigel was probably tucked up in bed twenty miles away in

Geneva. They would call him in the morning, which for Nikki,

couldn’t come quickly enough.

By first light they were driving to Geneva, as Nigel had

failed to answer his phone. With every passing mile, Nikki

became more and more convinced that her brother was no

longer alive.

The scene which confronted them in Nigel’s apartment was

devastating. Nigel was dead; a self-inflicted bullet wound to

the head. Nikki had known it all along. The police confirmed

Nigel’s time of death to be some time around midnight, the

very time Nikki had been overcome by her sense of doom.

A month later to the day, Nikki’s sense of foreboding

assailed her once again. Her father had died in her home town

162 The Interactions of Others

of Perth, succumbing to a sudden bout of pneumonia. Nikki’s

devastation couldn’t have been more complete.

Cocooned within a haze of grief-stricken numbness, she

and Jean Pierre boarded a plane for Perth; Nigel’s ashes mak-

ing the final trip home by his sister’s side.

The memorial service was a joint celebration for father and

son; as the family conducted a beautiful beachside ceremony

which saw their ashes scattered over the waters of North Cot-

tesloe Beach.

By the time Nikki got home from the service, she was

exhausted and emotionally drained. She lay on the couch cry-

ing, after which she fell into a fitful sleep. It wasn’t long before she was woken by someone touching her forehead, after

which the touch was replaced by a gentle kiss.

Expecting to see Jean Pierre, Nikki opened her eyes, only

to see a dark figure quickly moving away from her. In a matter of seconds he had disappeared through the front door. In that

instant Nikki had no doubt that her visitor had been Nigel, especially since he had mirrored exactly what Nikki had done at his funeral. As Nikki bid her brother a final farewell, she had gently swept her hand across his forehead. She then bent down and gave him a kiss. And now Nigel had returned the favour, by visiting his sister and doing exactly the same as she had done to him.

Although she didn’t need outside confirmation, Nikki was

further comforted by her conversation with Dot, a highly

regarded local medium. Dot recounted Nigel’s memorial day

visit exactly as it happened; from the light touch on Nikki’s

forehead, to his gentle, fleeting kiss. He apologised if he had scared her, saying he just wanted to say goodbye.

Nigel went on to thank Nikki for
the white rose
; a comment which confirmed her brother’s presence beyond a doubt.

The Interactions of Others 163

Nikki had placed a white rose in Nigel’s hand as he lay in his casket, a fact that Dot could not have possibly known.

Nigel apologised profusely for the pain he had caused his

family and was desperate to make amends. His physicality had

let him down; his brain’s chemical imbalances and mental dis-

tress pushing him to the point where he could see no other

means of escape. He had clarity and peace now, but he had to

reassure his family. He wanted them to know he was OK. He

was desperate for their forgiveness.

Nikki’s bond with Nigel remains as strong as ever, as both

travel along their soul’s journey towards being together again.

Although Nikki’s sense of loss can never be entirely abated,

the knowledge that Nigel still walks beside her affords her

some much needed comfort. And for Nigel, being able to get

his message through to his family has no doubt brought him