my
earlier séance and I had watched a few scary movies and heard sto-
ries of ghosts who haunted places and people, I felt confident in my special world. Now I did not know what to do.
My grandfather however, would not be turned away so quickly.
He persisted. I was becoming accustomed to his visits and it wasn’t long before he once again returned.
The next time I felt him, I paused before running away. I was
by now accustomed to his intense presence. So, this time I tried to relax, focus and tune into him. As usual he was dressed in a dark
suit and he seemed to have a look of concern on his face.
“What do you want?” I tried my best to summon some confi-
dence.
“Tell your mother that I am sorry and that I love her.” He tele-
pathically broadcast my way. Then he was gone.
Fat chance of that , I thought. After all he put her through I don’t think she would even believe me .
Now I was truly perplexed. I knew that if I gave this message to
my mother it was highly likely that she would get angry. She had a
fierce temper. There was a silent but strict policy in my home. Do
not talk about her family. There was also the issue of her believing me. We did not share the same awareness of those in spirit. This
was my private world and I did not want to open myself to her
scrutiny. I hoped this would all just go away, but it did not
Within a few days, my grandfather again made his presence felt.
“Please tell your mother I am sorry.” I heard one morning while
I was waking up. In a half asleep state, I saw my grandfather standing near my bed. “I did not know.” He pleaded “I was too proud.
She needs to know that I love her.”
In my drowsy state I could feel his emotions more acutely and
they were real and deep. I knew that this was important to him.
24 ~ The Good Dead: My Early Years
Covering my head with my pillow, I waited a minute or so than got
up and tried to shake off the overwhelming feelings that I received from him.
I knew that I had to do something. My grandfather would not
give up until I talked to my mother. By now I knew that with his
strong will and determination he would persist.
I soon got my opportunity. Walking into the kitchen one Sat-
urday morning I saw my mother sitting alone at the table drinking
coffee. I was anxious as to how to approach her. But, I knew this
was my chance.
With no introduction and in the most nonchalant voice I could
muster I said. “Maybe your father loved you.”
I was ready for the wrath of hell to break open but to my sur-
prise she simply said. “Why do you say that?”
“Well,” I continued. “Maybe he loved you, but he was confused
and didn’t know what to do and how to tell you.”
My mother looked out the window. “It’s funny you should
bring this up.” She said. “A few nights ago I had a dream about
him. Then yesterday while I was folding the laundry I remembered
something that I had forgotten. Soon after my mother died,” she
continued. “He asked me to move back into his house. I was liv-
ing with a friend at the time. My father told me he wanted me to
come home. I told him that he hurt my mother and that she cried
every day. It was his fault that she died. I hated him for this and told him I would never speak to him again. He looked at me with
tears in his eyes and I knew that he loved me. But I had to be loyal to my mother, even after her death. I couldn’t let him into my life.
I thought I owed this to my mother. Maybe I did want him to be a
part of my life. Maybe it could have been different.”
I never heard my mother speak of her father without resent-
ment in her voice. With a distant gaze she continued to stare out
the window. A calm look of peace came over her.
The Good Dead: My Early Years ~ 25
“He loves you and he is sorry for all of the pain.” Shot out of
my mouth. I was ready for her onslaught of anger. But, still looking out the window she just nodded her head. Before she could