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There was a meme on social media in the early 2020’s that posed the question – and I’m paraphrasing – if you could sit on a park bench and talk with anyone – an historic figure  or someone in your past – who would it be?

It is a loaded question. There’s too many to mention.  That post inspired me when I ran into a wall while I was researching Mary Magdalene for a story I was writing. I had read a few books that talked about who she was or when she was known as Miriam of Magdala around the first century A.D. I remember feeling frustrated and thinking, “If only I could actually talk to her!” I had so many more questions that I needed answers to. I know I’m not alone in this.

While I get that it is not possible to sit on a park bench and summon her or anyone from the past,  I contemplated the idea of this meme. I thought about who I would like to sit on the bench with  and have a conversation. I made a list of some historical figures from the past – like Mary Magdalene and Joan of Arc; friends or relatives I knew who had crossed over. It was quite a long list, about a dozen. The list was edited. A couple of times. Finally, I thought that there was just one person I wanted to talk with.

The initial spark on my spiritual odyssey was wondering as a teenager in the middle of a cold fall night: “What happens to us when we die? ” I know now and believe that our souls are forever, that our human bodies are just vehicles for that soul while it is making its sojourn on planet earth. I believe, that is, I have learned that not only are our souls forever, but so is love. The loved ones who leave us are never really gone, they are still around us.

For me, the park bench is symbolic. I don’t need a park bench to talk to Spacey and others who have crossed over, because they are always with me in spirit. I can feel her energy around me and I will say to my school mate Janie* whom I nicknamed Spacey that this writing journey was inspired by your memory. So, a story was created. Sweet Dreams, the short story that was based on our friendship and my spiritual journey.

I would  tell her of the experiences I had…the reason we choose people for our journey before we reincarnate – did I choose you for that reason. There was importance to our brief friendship, I believe that. I felt joy when I was with you- I can’t even describe really how joyful it felt when we talked about music and bands and boys – not always in that order- or shared stuff. It was a once in a lifetime friendship.

I would talk to her about the state of rock music presently…

I do not feel that I have to tell her of the music revolutions she missed: the new wave of heavy metal was just kicking off with Def Leppard, her favorite band at the time of her passing; grunge and the bands  that inaugurated  alternative rock. I loved both. I would tell her  I went to Madison Square Garden to see KISS on their reunion tour in 1996. Or that I saw Def Leppard at the Monticello Speeway in 1989. She knows. I felt her there with me in spirit at both concerts.

Janie – I feel that you have been around me during this project. I know it has taken longer for me to finally get this done and I have imagined you rolling your eyes at me. Now that it is over you will be moving on. I believe that when I started to recall, re-member our time at school – passing notes, talking about bands and other details – i was still grieving and this journey helped me to heal. I had pushed that time and my memories of it down, way down….

For the reader – a lot of the events re-telling revolve around death and dying and while that may be scary  for some and difficult for others to wrap their heads around, many of us have experienced the loss of someone we knew or loved.  My journey started out wondering what happens when people die. What happens to their souls? Where do they go? Having a better understanding of the answer to that question does not make the loss any easier for me.

At the time of Spacey’s passing, my first experience with death and the loss of someone close to me, instead of showing sympathy, one of my very pious relatives only expressed coldness and told me that people die every day and that the vehicle accident was somehow her fault. I have not forgotten that and I believe that is why I show compassion and sympathy for those who have passed and the loved ones that were left behind to cope with the loss.

Every soul has a mission here on earth. When they depart earth, however they depart, they have completed that mission – their life’s mission. I give the departing soul a send off with love.