Paranormal Story Archives
May 2001 – Page 2

Message from Paradise
by Mysteben

I was standing outside the funeral home where my grandmother's viewing had been held. It was a beautiful, sunny June afternoon as friends and family members gathered around consoling one another. Hearing my name called in a gentle but demanding way, I turned and there stood Aunt Lorraine, my Grandmother's sister, who I barely knew. Her name was on the tip of my tongue and she could see I felt awkward that I couldn't remember it, so she told me. I smiled and repeated her name back saying, "That's right! Aunt Lorraine! How have you been?" We spoke briefly and I remember thinking how cool her hand felt in mine. Later, as we headed back to my dad's, I felt like the air was knocked out of me when it hit me that Aunt Lorraine had died. I ask my dad if MaMaw (my grandmother) had any relatives, friends or coworkers whose name was Lorraine. He was adamant that there were none. Asking me why I wanted to know, I hesitantly told him what happened, knowing he would find this hard to believe because I was having a hard time accepting it myself. But she was real! We had spoken! I had touched her! Deciding there had to be a logical explanation I decided it was someone who looked remarkably like her and I had misheard her name and it must have been "Maureen."

As I left that small town in Tennessee and headed back to Ohio, I was still a bit unnerved. A couple of weeks went by and I was in the kitchen when I heard the same voice call my name. My dog heard too because she barked. Thinking it was a "live" person, I went to the front door where I heard the voice. No one was there. Feeling somewhat mystified, I turned and started retracing the same steps back to the kitchen when I stopped abruptly. There on the floor was a large wadded up newspaper that hadn't been there five seconds earlier. Feeling very perplexed, I picked it up I opened the paper; it was from Tennessee. To my utter astonishment, wrapped inside I found a bell - a small, white porcelain bell with a rainbow, and underneath the rainbow was written "Hawaii." I realized then and there that I had, indeed, seen Aunt Lorraine - that my seeing her was the prelude to this mysterious, solid evidence and that she and MaMaw wanted me to have that bell. Even though it was not at all my taste in decorating, it was my MaMaw's taste because she had spoons, plates and other knickknacks of that sort, which I personally thought tacky. Regardless, I accepted this gift, not having a clue as to why they wanted me to have it. I put it in my china cupboard with the rainbow facing away. It sat that way for over ten years until the day I came to understand their message.

Dad was visiting from Tennessee and during the course of our conversation we begin talking about God. He was not sure if he believed in any kind of life after death. He felt that when a person died, "That's it!" was his quote. Yet, he did believe that a God existed while one was alive and that He was everywhere. I explained how this made no sense to me. Why would God cease to exists to him after death I asked? He didn't have an answer. This whole conversation was a bit surreal because dad never discussed God or religion, and if someone broached the subject he'd cut you off with a look. Now while sitting there I remembered how several years before MaMaw died dad had gone to Hawaii. I suddenly remembered how he called it a real paradise and how it was the most beautiful place he'd ever seen. I got up and fetched the bell. I handed it to dad and said, "Now I know why MaMaw and Aunt Lorraine gave me this bell. It was a message for you!" I exclaimed. "For you to know there is a paradise after this life." I knew this just as clear as the sky is blue and the grass is green. After all these years I finally knew. Dad's face was filled with excitement, glee and relief. He ask if he could have it and I said, "No! They gave it to me!" And we laughed. But, I felt strongly that I was supposed to keep the bell. It wasn't until the following summer that I knew why.

Dad was again at my house but not for a visit. He was dying. I had taken the bell out of the cupboard and placed it beside his bed. Watching him slip away was so painful. I cried and prayed, and laughed as I spoke of fun moments we had shared. I told him not to be afraid, that MaMaw was waiting for him. I held his hand and stroked his face. Told him how much I loved him. How much I would miss him, but that I would forever carry him in my heart. Suddenly the room became very quiet and still. Dad was gone. Now the bell sits as it did for years with one exception. I now have it turned where anyone can see the rainbow with "Hawaii" written underneath. It's not the least bit tacky to me now. It is a beautiful reminder from those who love me and mine that they are in their paradise.

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