I awoke sometime later, have no idea how much later, and as soon as I was awake, or aware of something being different, I realized I was rising from out my body. Only I could look down and still see me there, and my dad. He was not awake, nor was I. That, in itself, was so neat, seeing us both there, but kind of scary, too, and I continued to rise until I went to the corner of the bedroom. I faced the corner for a little bit, kind of scared to look back down, wondering how I got up here, just looking at the corner of the ceiling. I looked down again...we were still there. I thought I'd see if I could move from this corner, and did so...just floated all around the ceiling, going to each corner, keeping an eye every now and then to make sure I was still down there. I was. After several trips around the room, I remember feeling more comfortable in this state, and knew there was a place I'd passed that I could go through if I wanted to.

I slowly floated over to this spot [on the west end of the bedroom I know now] and decided to see what was in there, thought I don't remember seeing an actual opening. I just 'went through' where I knew the place was. It was very dark, a tunnel. I remember that it was then I turned horizontal, and floated that way, whereas in the bedroom, I could turn either vertically or horizontally, but did mostly the latter. This is probably boring, just trying not to leave out any detail. I could smell dampness in the tunnel, if that makes any sense. It kind of smelled like being in a storm cellar, only without the kerosene lamp smell, don't really recognize the odor...and it seemed damp for some reason, maybe just cooler?

I saw things on my left...looked to my right, where there was nothing but dark stone wall...just wanted to make sure, and turned my attention to whatever these things were on the left. Masks of some sort. Very vividly colored. All different. All very large. Not particularly scary looking, like a Halloween mask might be, but you could tell they were masks. Each one seemed like it could tell its own story if I stayed long enough to look and hear it. Many years later, I saw some pictures of some African[?] masks that looked very similar to the ones I saw, although the ones in the pictures were not nearly as vivid as the ones I encountered. I didn't count them, there were several, but kept moving on through the tunnel, I guess to see what else might be there.

Still nothing on the right side, I would look occasionally. Just black stone wall. Kind of gradually, I slowed down, don't remember willing myself to do so, and could kind of see a faint light ahead. There was a bend in the tunnel, I both saw and felt it, the light was coming from there. I could see it faintly; somehow, I knew it would get brighter. I knew if I went there that I might not see my dad again. He was my world then, and I could not bear to risk maybe not being able to come back...I didn't know if I could come back if I went too far, but had a feeling that maybe I could not, so I decided that I'd better go back while I still could. I reluctantly turned back, and gave another glimpse at the masks, which were on my right side now...still nothing on the other but the stone wall. I don't remember seeing an opening to get back in the bedroom, but knew it should be at the end of the tunnel, and it was...I passed through and came back into the bedroom. I didn't want to go back in to my body, which was still there, right by dad's, but felt that I'd better pretty soon. I floated around to the corners once more, kind of saying good bye to them? and then to the center of the room, and went back down, feet first, into my body.

I don't remember anything after that, guess I went right to sleep? However, I did remember the entire event when I awoke. I remember it to this day as if it just had happened. I heard no voices, encountered nothing but the masks, and have wondered what they meant to this day. I grew up in the south, was only 4 or 5, had not even started 1st grade. We didn't have kindergarten at our school, this was the early 60's. I know that I had not been to the doctor, I can just about tell you EVERY trip I made to one!, and so had no medicine in the house except St. Joseph's aspirin. I'm sure I probably was given one before I went to bed that night, but don't remember it.

Was the kind of experience difficult to express in words? No       It was real, and I remember it vividly 46+ years later, as if it happened this morning.

At the time of this experience, was there an associated life threatening event?          Uncertain            Had been running high fever that day and the night before. My mother worked nights, my dad worked days. She asked him to let me sleep with him in their bed that night so he could "keep an eye" on my temperature.

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness?    the entire time. Remember my age!

How did your highest level of consciousness and alertness during the experience compare to your normal every day consciousness and alertness?    More consciousness and alertness than normal

If your highest level of consciousness and alertness during the experience was different from your normal every day consciousness and alertness, please explain:            the entire time. Remember my age!

Did your vision differ in any way from your normal, everyday vision (in any aspect, such as clarity, field of vision, colors, brightness, depth perception degree of solidness/transparency of objects, etc.)?  Uncertain      I can't say my vision differed, but what I saw was much totally different than what I was used to seeing. I knew there was a light around the bend, coming up; I could see it faintly; somehow, I knew it would get brighter. I knew if I went there that I might not see my dad again. He was my world then, and I could not bear to risk maybe not being able to come back...I didn't know if I could come back if I went too far, but had a feeling that maybe I could not, so I decided that I'd better go back while I still could.

Did your hearing differ in any way from your normal, everyday hearing (in any aspect, such as clarity, ability to recognize source of sound, pitch, loudness, etc.)?            No      

Did you experience a separation of your consciousness from your body?     Yes

What emotions did you feel during the experience?            wonder. awe. How am I able to do this [flying]? A need to return because my dad would miss me if I didn't come back, and might not be too happy if he knew I was flying around the room, and especially in that tunnel. Trying to convince myself that this was a dream, and I KNEW it was not. I'm still trying to come up with a word or emotion that could encompass this experience.

Did you pass into or through a tunnel or enclosure?          Yes     After several trips around the room, I remember feeling more comfortable in this state, and knew there was a place I'd passed that I could go through if I wanted to. I slowly floated over to this spot [on the west end of the bedroom I know now] and decided to see what was in there, thought I don't remember seeing an actual opening. I just 'went through' where I knew the place was. It was very dark, a tunnel. I remember that it was then I turned horizontal, and floated that way, whereas in the bedroom, I could turn either vertically or horizontally, but did mostly the latter. This is probably boring, just trying not to leave out any detail. I could smell dampness in the tunnel, if that makes any sense. It kind of smelled like being in a storm cellar, only without the kerosene lamp smell, don't really recognize the odor...and it seemed damp for some reason, maybe just cooler? I saw things on my left...looked to my right, where there was nothing but dark stone wall...just wanted to make sure, and turned my attention to whatever these things were on the left. Masks of some sort. Very vividly colored. All different. All very large. Not particularly scary looking, like a Halloween mask might be, but you could tell they were masks. Each one seemed like it could tell its own story if I stayed long enough to look and hear it. Many years later, I saw some pictures of some African[?] masks that looked very similar to the ones I saw, although the ones in the pictures were not nearly as vivid as the ones I encountered. I didn't count them, there were several, but kept moving on through the tunnel, I guess to see what else might be there. Still nothing on the right side, I would look occasionally. Just black stone wall. Kind of gradually, I slowed down, don't remember willing myself to do so, and could kind of see a faint light ahead. There was a bend in the tunnel, I both saw and felt it, the light was coming from there. I could see it faintly; somehow, I knew it would get brighter. I knew if I went there that I might not see my dad again. He was my world then, and I could not bear to risk maybe not being able to come back...I didn't know if I could come back if I went too far, but had a feeling that maybe I could not, so I decided that I'd better go back while I still could. I reluctantly turned back, and gave another glimpse at the masks, which were on my right side now...still nothing on the other but the stone wall. I don't remember seeing an opening to get back in the bedroom, but knew it should be at the end of the tunnel, and it was...I passed through and came back into the bedroom.

Did you see a light?           Uncertain      I knew there was a light around the bend, coming up; I could see it faintly; somehow, I knew it would get brighter. I knew if I went there that I might not see my dad again. He was my world then, and I could not bear to risk maybe not being able to come back...I didn't know if I could come back if I went too far, but had a feeling that maybe I could not, so I decided that I'd better go back while I still could.

Did you meet or see any other beings?           No      

Did you experience a review of past events in your life?    No      

Did you observe or hear anything regarding people or events during your experience that could be verified later?          No      

Did you see or visit any beautiful or otherwise distinctive locations, levels or dimensions?            Yes     I'm not sure they were beautiful, but they were certainly different from anything I'd ever seen...I was not sure at the time what they were, but the best way I can describe them would be masks of some sort, very vividly colored, and each one seemed like it could tell its own story if I stayed to look long enough. Very vivid colors. Many years later, I saw some pictures of some African? masks that looked very similar to the ones I saw, although the ones in the pictures were not nearly as vivid.

Did you have any sense of altered space or time?   Uncertain      I have no idea how long I was out of my body, probably not more than a few minutes. It is hard for me to tell one how this sense was changed, but I knew that things were different in the tunnel. While flying around in the bedroom, I did not feel this. That was a comfortable feeling, and at the same time, extraordinary due to the flying, and being able to see myself asleep below on the bed, my dad asleep beside me.

Did you have a sense of knowing special knowledge, universal order and/or purpose?     No      

Did you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure? Yes     AS above: I knew there was a light around the bend, coming up; I could see it faintly; somehow, I knew it would get brighter. I knew if I went there that I might not see my dad again. He was my world then, and I could not bear to risk maybe not being able to come back...I didn't know if I could come back if I went too far, but had a feeling that maybe I could not, so I decided that I'd better go back while I still could. I didn't want to get in trouble.

Did you become aware of future events?       No           

Did you have any psychic, paranormal or other special gifts following the experience you did not have prior to the experience?     No      

Have you shared this experience with others?         Yes     I told my parents the very next day; my mother, after she came in from work, and I awoke that morning, and my father, after he came in from work the next evening. They both listened to me, and both told me that I'd had a "dream". I have always had vivid dreams, they had heard some of them before, I still remember them. [This was not a vivid dream]. I have had some lucid dreams, after I learned years later what that meant; this was not a lucid dream. My parents were not influenced by what I'd told them in any way, except to say I had an over active imagination, and that, sometimes, dreams can seem very real.

Did you have any knowledge of near death experience (NDE) prior to your experience?    No       I was 4 or 5.I had knowledge of my parents, sister, grandparents, and being cared for by my grandparents during the days my folks were working or sleeping, depending on their shift.

How did you view the reality of your experience shortly (days to weeks) after it happened:            Experience was definitely real    It was years later that I viewed the reality of my OBE. I knew it was not a dream in any way, form, or fashion. I just ignored my parents and their "dream" explanation. As I grew older, I started researching in my limited school...in college, I felt I had at least an idea of what had happened. When I became a nurse, I knew. Have never forgotten it, never will. I've told very few people. I don't understand the ridicule factor, but know it exists.

Were there one or several parts of the experience especially meaningful or significant to you?            The masks. The light I almost saw. The love I felt for my father. The ecstasy of being able to fly while seeing your body down below. These are all significant, and I've wondered about them ever since. The entire experience will be vivid with me when I go to my grave. I might not recognize a granddaughter in my old age, later...but I will be able to recount this to anyone who wants to hear it.

How do you currently view the reality of your experience:            Experience was definitely real    It was years later that I viewed the reality of my OBE. I knew it was not a dream in any way, form, or fashion. I just ignored my parents and their "dream" explanation. As I grew older, I started researching in my limited school. By college, I felt I had at least an idea of what had happened. When I became a nurse, I knew. Have never forgotten it, never will. I've told very few people: I don't understand the ridicule factor, must be fear based, and know it exists. I know from being with people when they die that something goes on...you can feel them leave. One has told me a very peaceful "goodbye, and thank you" when he drew his last breath. I only know my experience was a reality, not a dream.

Have your relationships changed specifically as a result of your experience?           No      

Have your religious beliefs/practices changed specifically as a result of your experience?            No           

Following the experience, have you had any other events in your life, medications or substances which reproduced any part of the experience?         No      

Is there anything else you would like to add concerning the experience?        It is/was the most indescribable experience that I have ever encountered. I will never forget it. Something else is out there.

Did the questions asked and information you provided so far accurately and comprehensively describe your experience?         Uncertain      you just had to be there, but y'all did a good job prompting questions.

Are there any other questions we could ask to help you communicate your experience?   I tried to do all this before bedtime...Sort've wanted to save it, and come back to it later. Didn't know if I could without losing all I'd written. Maybe a SAVE FOR LATER option?