I was inside of a Best Buy, and I was in the movie section and picked up “This is Spinal Tap” and slowly started sobbing; because that is one of Don’s absolute favorite movies. I kept thinking of him always quoting from that, and Caddyshack, and Blazing Saddles. As I was sobbing, a large hand touched me on my shoulder and I turned around. It was Don. He was in one of his favorite shirts; a t-shirt we had bought the very first time I took him to the US Open tennis tournament. It said: “You call that a serve? Take that back to New Jersey!” I didn’t think it was that funny, but he found it hilarious and wore it all the time while playing tennis. Anyway, in the dream, I turned around and looked into his beautiful blue eyes and sobbed even harder.“I miss you so much” I cried into his chest.
“I know Boo.” he said, as he lightly ran his fingers through the back of my hair, sort of scratching it the way he used to.
“Why are you here? Are you back? You didn’t really die right?”
“Yes, I did. I’m sorry honey. I didn’t want to. It just happened.”
“But its not fair. You were always outside exercising, trying to stay in shape. You played tennis two days before.”
“I know, and I left this in my tennis bag by mistake. If only I would have moved it into my wallet, they would have been able to call you a lot sooner, while I was still alive. You couldn’t have done anything to save me, but maybe we could have said goodbye.”
He pulled out his drivers license and Emergency Hospital Card. The one where they ask your blood type, and to name someone to call in case of an emergency. It said “Kelley Niemi – Wife” and my phone number.
I looked at the card and kept crying: “When the hospital called me and woke me up, you were already dead.”
“I know Boo. It wasn’t supposed to happen there. I kept those things in my tennis bag whenever I played tennis, just in case. People usually have heart attacks while running, or playing tennis, or doing something strenuous. It just made more sense to put the information in my tennis bag. I just forgot to take it out before work that morning. I feel so badly that the paramedics or Petsmart staff didn’t know your number or how to call you. You know, my dad had his heart attack on the golf course.”
“Yeah – in his 80s!”
“I guess I didn’t get that lucky. I had to die in a freakin’ Petsmart in New Jersey!” he laughed and kissed my forehead.
“You made me so happy. I’m not happy anymore. All I do is cry, and try not to cry.”
“Its going to take a very long time Boo. I was pretty awesome.”
We both laugh.
Are we really standing here holding each other in the middle of a Best Buy?” I ask him.
“Its just a dream.” he says matter-of-factly, lightly smiling at me. “Its not real. Your heart wants so badly to talk to me again, to hold me again, so your mind is letting you in your dreams.”
“But I have nightmares. And even these dreams that seem nice now, are awful because when I wake up, I realize none of it was real and you’re still gone, and then I feel like shit.”
“I know Boo. Its all part of the grieving process. You’re going to feel like shit for a long time, and I hate that. That’s the crappy thing about dying. Its the people you leave behind that suffer.”
“But you got screwed, just like Ginger. Why didn’t you get more time? You deserved so much more time …” I sob intensely now.
“I wish there was an answer to that question that would comfort you. But there isn’t. It makes no sense.” It feels like his hug isn’t as tight anymore.
“Please please don’t go. You just got here.” I pause, then ask: “Will I see you again?”
“Yeah. Probably for awhile. But eventually, you wont need to.” He wipes my tears away.
“I cant imagine a day where I wont need or want to see you. I love you.”
I love you too Boo.” He starts to walk away, then turns back. “Oh, I noticed last night that you did some laundry. I never thought Id see the day … Boo doing laundry.” He laughs his awesome laugh.
“They just put in brand new washers and dryers downstairs. They aren’t like the old ones. I had no idea what I was doing. The settings were all different. Too many numbers.”
“Stop being so over dramatic”, he said as he laughed at me. “You’ll figure it out. Here’s a hint. The liquidy stuff … that’s called detergent. It goes inside the machine.” He always loved mocking me.
“I’ll try and remember that.” I said, still sobbing.
He turned around one last time. “Oh, and one last thing” I reached out to take his hand while he talked, but he was too far away now to reach him. “The old washers had settings that went to 10. These new ones go higher. These go to eleven.” He gave me a wink and a smile, knowing that I would catch the Spinal Tap reference. And then he was gone.
I woke up with a massive headache, and my pillow soaking wet from my tears. I looked over to his side of the bed, as I do every morning, and it was still empty. I sobbed and sobbed for what seemed like a half hour but probably wasn’t. Sammy ran up onto the bed and purred; rubbing his face against mine. “Its okay Mommy”, he seemed to be saying. Then he threw up on my arm.
Kelley, tears are running down my cheeks. I know just how you feel. My husband died unexpectedly of a heart attack beside me in the middle of the night 28 months ago (June 2011). There were no last words of "I Love You; I Always Will." There was no closure. Two weeks ago I had a dream about him that felt so real. The love of my life was looking down at me with so much love in his eyes, a look I will always remember. He looked like he did when we met almost 19 years ago; so handsome and smiling with that look of love in his eyes that I will remember until I join him again. I have had a meltdown for the past two weeks crying at everything just when I thought I was finally able to not cry all the time and accepting my "new normal" whatever that is. I wrote to a psychic who has written me three or four times before. Lilly was recommended to me by a friend. The psychic wrote to me and said that the time our husbands come to us in the dream state is very important. If they come just before we wake, we remember more and to write it down in a journal.
ReplyDeleteHere is an excerpt from her email:
"...When spirits come to when you are close to waking up in the early morning, you are in that light-sleep state almost awake, and they KNOW you will be able to remember them, even possibly have a conversation with them. We remember dreams so much better and clearer when we are almost conscious. So it was a deliberate planning with the timing of Rich's appearance. He heard your prayer request, so you must realize that he is able to listen and be nearby whenever he can. How can you doubt that? He also answered your prayer by "speaking with his eyes", showing you a wonderful look of love on his face and love reflecting in his eyes. That answers the other part of your question, "does he know you love him?" Of course, he does, which is why he appeared to you.
I again suggest to keep a dream journal, and please record this dream visit with him in it. That way when you are having a low point and depressed, you can get out your dream journal, re-read what you wrote and refresh your memory of his visits. It would be much like reading old love letters one has kept. I know you said you don't wish to marry again, and I understand that, so having a dream journal to read would help you with having new memories to recall. Just write the dreams down soon after waking when the memory details are fresh in your mind.
Peace and Blessings,.."
Kelley, you had definitely brought tears to my eyes. My husband died suddenly from a stroke. I never got to say goodbye or tell him how I much I truly loved him. In the last three years, I haven't had many dreams about him and that has been a disappointment. I wish he would come back often into my dreams. In the early days, before I even opened my eyes in the morning I would reach my hand across the bed hoping beyond hope that his death was all just a nightmare. When I didn't feel his warm body, the tears came gushing.
ReplyDeleteI hope when your tears dry up that Don's appearance in your dreams brings hope and a new energy into your life. His love for you will propell you forward. Hugs and thanks!
What a comforting thought in the remark above..."His love for you will propell you forward."
ReplyDeleteThanks...hugs to all:)