Experience description:

I deal with lorry/truck drivers in the course, of my work, as I work as a security guard at an aluminum factory, where we produce aluminum. There are numerous by-products and this particular lorry/truck driver, comes 3 times a week, twice a day, to collect by-products in his lorry. He never speaks to me, as I'm an older woman and he's a man, in his 50's who is married. He kept himself to himself and when I asked him his name, for the paperwork, all would say, in a gruff voice was 'Bell - just call me Bell'. So, I recently started to feel more cheerful in my own life and would greet him, each time, I was on shift and saw him, with 'Good morning, Bell!' and just leave it at that. He never spoke, he wouldn't answer with a reply, he would just collect his vehicle pass and leave the reception area. Till Wednesday, 21st February, 2018, when he asked to be let through the barrier to get a piece of fruit, as we supply free fruit to the workers in the factory, and we allow the lorry drivers to have some of it. So, I let him through and he got 2 oranges and while he had his back to me, he said 'I want to tell you something, that is weird and very strange and I don't understand it myself'. So, he then went on, to tell me, how, his son, had died, 6 months ago and that when I say to him 'Good morning, Bell' - he sees and feels his son presence. He said, that his son's friends, use to say 'Good morning, Bell' just the way I do, to his son, but that I am, the ONLY person who can do this, with the same effect on him. So, I asked him, if he wanted me to stop saying it? He said he didn't, as I was the only living connection, he now has to his dead son and he appreciates that. As he spoke to me, about it he was overcome and moved to tears, in front of people, who were coming and going in the reception area. I didn't know what to say, or how best to deal with this, new information? I saw him again, on the 23rd February, 2018 as he'd been in, really early and he reached out and held my hand, so there was a connection, between us. I think, (although I can't speak for him), that he now feels, because I was not offended by him telling me this story, that there is now, a connection between me, him and his son? The whole business, is the strangest thing, that has ever happened to me and sometimes, I think 'Wow!', other times, it spooks me a little, as it's never happened before, hence the reason, I've been trying to do some research to try and find an explanation for it?

Was this experience difficult to express in words?     Yes

I couldn't believe it was happening, as it was the weirdest, strangest thing, to happen to me, in my entire life!!!

Did you ONLY sense an awareness of presence of the deceased without actually seeing, hearing, feeling or smelling them?          No

Did you hear the deceased or hear something associated with the deceased? No

Did you feel a touch or experience any physical contact from the deceased?      No

Did you see the deceased?       No

Did you smell a distinct smell, scent, fragrance or odor associated with the deceased?   No

How long did the experience last?      I don't know, as it wasn't me it happened to, I was the one, who mysteriously channelled the spirit of this man's dead son, to him, without me even knowing, I was doing it?

Was the beginning and end of the experience gradual or more sudden?          Gradual. The father was explaining to me, how, when I say 'Good morning, Bell' - HE senses his son and it's ONLY ME, who can do this - NOBODY ELSE, even if they say the same words. This what I don't understand - why me? Why pick me, to do this, when the father didn't even like me, or speak to me? Bizarre!

Could you sense the emotions or mood of the deceased?   Uncertain

Not at the time, but afterwards, I can now say, that there was mischief, as if the 'son' was thinking how clever he had been to be able to do this, to get his father's attention? I could be mistaken?

Did the deceased give you information you did not previously know?  It wasn't the deceased, it was the father of the deceased who told me, I am the connection, to his dead son, although I never met his son, didn't know his son's name, I still don't even know, how the son died - I don't know these people? This is what makes it so weird, I know nothing about any of them, except the father comes into my work and told me all this.

How do you currently view the reality of your experience? Experience was definitely real

           Please explain why you view the reality of your experience as real or not real:     It is definitely real to the father, without question. The tears rolling down his face, when he was talking about his son, only proved to me, how much, the grief is still as raw with him.

           Was the experience dream like in any way?           No

Describe in detail your feelings/emotions during the experience: I felt so sad for the father, as I could see, the emotional pain he was in, it was as if, I too, was sharing in that pain. However, I hoped, that if, what he said WAS true, that I had brought him, some comfort in his time of grief? But I was totally confused, as to what had just happened?

Was there any emotional healing in any way following the experience?         Yes

Although the father cried and he cried, there were smiles all round, afterwards, as we both went about our business and pondered over what had just happened, I guess? There was a mutual understanding and respect also, between the father and I.

What was the best and worst part of your experience? The confusion, was the worst bit, but I can deal with that. The best, was the smile on the father's face, when he realized, that I understood what he was saying to me and how much it meant to him. That I wasn't offended and didn't think he was crazy for telling me it.

Has your life changed specifically as a result of your experience? Yes                Describe:     I now believe, that these things are possible. It's just the first time, to my knowledge, that it has happened to me?        

Did you have any changes of attitudes or beliefs following the experience?          Uncertain     It made me want to research the subject, so I could understand what had happened.

Did the experience give you any spiritual understandings such as life, death, afterlife, God, etc.?  Yes    It's got me to do more research on the subject and to try and understand how things, I had always believed, might now, not be the case? Change in outlook and a wonderment over this amazing life that we have, the things we can do, if we open our minds to it? However, at the time, I was just doing my job, which is usually, extremely busy and I don't get time to think about things, other than, my work. So, this was like a breath of fresh air, although it did leave me, totally and utterly confused and baffled!

Death Compacts are when two or more living people promise among themselves that whoever dies first will try to contact the other(s).  Have you ever made such a compact?   No

Did you observe or hear anything regarding people or events during your experience that could be verified later?        Uncertain The father is the one, with the answers. I don't even know the questions. I'm just the messenger, as it were, the vessel that connected the dead son, with his father, it appears? I've never done it before, it's never happened before, so I have no idea?

What emotions did you feel during the experience?           Total confusion and wonderful feelings at the same time. I don't understand it, but very proud, that I was the one, chosen, by this young man, to try and help his father. The fact, the father didn't even like me, or talk to me, made it all the more poignant and meaningful. That was why, it was confusing and wonderful at the same time, as it was wonderful, that it had happened in the first place.

Was the experience witnessed or experienced by others?        Yes

The boys father approached me.

Did you have any sense of altered space or time?           No

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

Did you become aware of future events?      No

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

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

I obviously was doing it, without realizing, I was doing it? So, this father, could get communications, with his dead son, through me? Why me, I have no idea?