...the Tigers come at night...

We were all very close to my Grandma Wright – my great-grandmother. She was the kind of woman with a bright smile and open arms. She made everyone around her comfortable, and I never knew her to be less than warm and generous with anyone. Despite the fact that she lived an hour and a half away, Mom and Grandma were always very close and we went to visit as often as possible.

About a week before Grandma Wright passed away, she was put in the hospital for a simple procedure. She was healing well, but she acquired a touch of pneumonia. Initially, we were terrified, and but by the weekend, she was on the mend. They planned to send her home on Monday morning.

Sunday night, in the middle of the night, Mom woke up to the sound of the phone ringing. When she picked it up, Grandma said, “Karen?” Mom, of course answered her. Then Grandma said something that none of us had expected to hear: “Karen, I just called to say I love you. I sure am gonna miss you. But I have to go now.” Mom responded that she loved Grandma too, but I think she was a bit confused as she heard the click on the other side of the line. That was when she woke up and realized it she had been dreaming. She says she looked at the clock and saw the time. The next morning when we got the call, we learned that Grandma had passed a minute before mom awoke and saw the time. Mom says she knew immediately.

Techy had a similar experience about a month after his mother passed away. He says she came to him in his sleep and told him she loved him. She was sorry for the pain she had put him through. They hugged. He told her he loved her. He forgave her. He missed her. And then he woke up.

In my heart of hearts, I believe in both cases, God gave a special gift. An opportunity to say goodbye to the ones you love.

Say what you will - it was their subconscious thoughts, or whatever. But I know what I believe. And it never ceases to warm my heart, give me goosebumps, and yes, bring tears to my eyes.