I was asleep. I was standing in a field...it was vacant except for some trees on the far horizon. There were wispy, hazy clouds in the sky, and a very slight breeze. I remember that the breeze made the tall grass/wheat move a little bit. The grass/wheat was a tannish color, but it seems that there was a faint, white haze. All of a sudden, Eric was standing in front of me. I was very aware of what was going on...the first thought that went through my head was What the heck! You are dead...I can't believe I am seeing you! He just stood there smiling, looking as he usually did, with blue jeans and a black Harley-Davidson T-shirt on. I distinctly remember that he was clean shaven - at the time of his death he had a beard, which I was not used to seeing on him.

My mind was racing...I had a million questions, and didn't know how long this moment would last. So I asked the most important one...Are you in heaven? He smiled again, kind of laughed, and said Yeah. I then asked What's it like? He replied, I really can't describe it to you...you wouldn't understand. I wasn't happy with that answer - I wanted to know at least a little! I think he sensed that, and said The best way I can explain Heaven, is that it is whatever you want it to be.

It then seemed like my million questions disappeared...I knew he was OK, I know Heaven must be awesome...etc.

The scene faded out, and I bolted awake immediately. It was very early morning, but I woke up my husband (who was also good friends with Eric) and told him everything. All he said was Wow!

Did you hear the deceased or hear something associated with the deceased?         

Yes

            Describe what you heard, how clearly you heard it and what was communicated:  

He was talking to me - I heard his voice, and it was the same as always.

            Did the voice or sound seem to originate externally or outside of you, inside you, or did you not hear a voice or sound, but had a sense of knowing what was communicated? 

His voice seemed to originate externally.

            If you heard a voice or sound, was it similar or dissimilar from the voice or sound the deceased made when they were alive?          

His voice was exactly the same as it was when he was alive.

            Is there any possibility what you heard was from any other source present in the surroundings at the time of your experience?          

No.

            Was there any possible impairment to your hearing at the time of the experience?  

No.

Did you feel a touch or experience any physical contact from the deceased?           

No

Did you see the deceased?        

Yes

He looked just the same as he was when he was alive - even wore the same clothes. The only difference was that he was growing a beard at the time of his death, and when I saw him, he was clean-shaven.

            How clearly did the deceased appear?            He appeared solid - very much alive.

            How much of the deceased did you see?       All of him - he was standing right in front of me.

            Did the deceased appear or not appear to be the age at which they died?       He was 20 when he died - he appeared to be the same age.

            How healthy did the deceased appear to be?            He was perfectly healthy - he showed none of the bruises that occurred from the car accident.

            Is there any possibility what you saw was from any other source present in the surroundings at the time of your experience?           No.

Did you smell a distinct smell, scent, fragrance or odor associated with the deceased?     

No

How long did the experience last?       

It seemed to have lasted only a few minutes in the dream.

Was the beginning and end of the experience gradual or more sudden?        

The beginning was gradual...I studied the surroundings before I saw Eric. The ending was very sudden, and I woke up immediately.

Could you sense the emotions or mood of the deceased?          

Yes

He was happy, at peace.

Did the deceased give you information you did not previously know? 

I did not know that Heaven is truly whatever you want...it was very helpful to me as I've always wondered how one place could truly please everybody. Well, now I know!

How do you currently view the reality of your experience?          

Experience was probably real

            Please explain why you view the reality of your experience as real or not real:         

I only say probably real because we all know how complex the human mind is - maybe my mind did fabricate this as a very realistic dream.

But I believe it was VERY real...why would I dream that...why would it have made me "feel" weird for weeks afterward...how could I have come up with that description of heaven (when all my life I pictured it as lots of beautiful grass and gold buildings...I never would have thought it was "whatever I would want it to be".) There was never a dream that impacted me like this...not even slightly!

            Was the experience dream like in any way?  

Uncertain

Although I was asleep, it didn't feel like a dream...I felt perfectly conscious, had clear thoughts, and reacted just like I would have if awake.

Describe in detail your feelings/emotions during the experience:          

I was confused (where was I? how did I get there?) but elated...I was constantly thinking about Eric, where he was, and how he was doing. Now I got to find out!

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

Yes

I wasn't quite as sad as I was before. Yes, I still miss him, and there will always be a degree of sadness because of that, but I knew where he was, that he was OK, and that I will see him again. Now, it kind of feels like he moved away...I know he exists, but I won't get to see him for awhile.

What was the best and worst part of your experience?     

The best part was seeing Eric, knowing that he was OK, and that there really is a God and afterlife!

The worst part was knowing I had very limited time, and that we are unable to truly comprehend what Heaven is like until we get there! (I am somewhat of an impatient person!!)

Has your life changed specifically as a result of your experience?        

Yes

            Describe:     

Knowing that I talked to somebody that had passed on made me happier to be here on Earth, knowing there is a purpose and that when I leave, I will be going to a better place. I now try to read as much as I can about the subject, and became a Hospice volunteer. I want to share my story with everybody, so they can get the same amount of comfort from it that I have.

Did you have any changes of attitudes or beliefs following the experience?   Yes

I am certain there is a God and an afterlife.

Did the experience give you any spiritual understandings such as life, death, afterlife, God, etc.?           

Yes

It definitely cemented my beliefs about God and the afterlife. Any bit of doubt that I had has been swept away.

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?         

No

What emotions did you feel during the experience?           

At first, I was just confused...like, why did this happen to me? I felt SO lucky. I was so happy that I saw him...that I knew he was OK. It was also very reassuring to me, that my other loved ones who had passed were!

  just as OK!

Was the experience witnessed or experienced by others?          

Uncertain

Immediately after it happened, I woke my husband and shared it with him. He could see I was quite shaken, and affected by what I had just experienced. He has been affected by my experience, as well.

Did you have any sense of altered space or time?  

Uncertain

I knew somehow that I didn't have much time with him, but I had no idea what time it was or how much I really had.

Did you have a sense of knowing, special knowledge, universal order and/or purpose?   

Uncertain

I'm not sure - he really couldn't explain Heaven to me...I guess my mortal mind just couldn't comprehend it.

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

Uncertain

I was in a dream, but so fully aware, and all of my senses were heightened. When I jolted awake, I had a very strange feeling...almost like I had been gone and was getting used to my body. My entire body felt tingly and warm - almost like an electric shock. So - I'm not sure if the emotions from the experience made me feel like that, or if my soul really had gone somewhere.

Did you meet or see any other beings other than the deceased?  

No

Did you see a light?          

Uncertain, No particular light - we were in a field and there was a hazy light!

but none of the blinding, beautiful lights that we sometimes hear about.

Have you shared this experience with others?        

Yes

Most believed me...they wanted to know every detail! None of them seemed skeptical at all, and even shared their own ADCs with me.

Have you shared this experience formally or informally with any other researcher or web site?  

No

Did the questions asked and information you provided accurately and comprehensively describe your experience?              

Yes

I think I included every detail...I wish I could better explain the "feeling" that I had for weeks after the experience. The best words I can come up with are detached, honored, lucky, and relieved in a way I had never felt before. I have never felt that feeling before, and haven't since. Something made me feel that way, and since it was the only ADC I've had, I believe it resulted from that.

Please offer any suggestions you may have to improve this questionnaire.   

Ask people how it made them feel physically after the experience. If it is a unique feeling, it might be another "sign" of a true ACD?!?!