Karen was my dearest childhood friend and next door neighbor.  We were nearly inseparable. If she wanted to get my attention after my parents had gone to bed, she would throw small rocks from our driveway at my upstairs bedroom window. She and another good friend died in a car accident on a Sunday afternoon.  I was supposed to go with them, but wasn't ready as my Mom was in the hospital at the time and I had fixed a large Sunday dinner for my Dad and brother, and had to do the dishes.  They then went to pick up two other friends and were to come back for me later. They pulled out in front of a semi truck on the way and two of the three in the car were killed instantly. That was my first experience in losing someone close to me, and I was terribly grief-stricken, as was everyone in our circle of friends.  Six weeks after the funeral was my 17th birthday.  I had gone to bed and was sleeping soundly when the sound of rocks pinging on my bedroom window woke me up.  I sat up in bed, and there was Karen sitting on the end of my bed, wearing the same pink dress she had been buried in.  I told her how glad I was to see her, that I missed her so much, and had so much I wanted to tell her about what had been going on in my life.  Her exact reply was, "You don't have to tell me, I already know, and I will always know.  But, you need to stop grieving for me.  As long as you grieve for me, I can't move on.  I'm fine, stop worrying".  Then she disappeared. 

     When my mother came home from the hospital and was recovering from a major surgery, she also had an experience.  My Mom's name was Norma Jeanne but Karen always called her "Normal Jeanne".  Mom awoke one night to see Karen standing at the foot of her bed.  Mom said, "Karen, did you come to pick up your P.E. clothes?"  (My mother often washed Karen's  P.E. clothes for her when she brought them home from school on the weekends since Karen's parents were divorced and she lived with her father) Karen laughed and replied, "Oh Normal Jeanne, you know I don't need those anymore.  I just wanted to see how you were doing."  Mom went back so sleep and woke up a little later because it was cold in the house and it was the dead of winter.  The front door was standing open.

Was this experience difficult to express in words?          No

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:    I heard spoken words, as did my mother.

            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?  It was normal spoken conversation.

            If you heard a voice or sound, was it similar or dissimilar from the voice or sound the deceased made when they were alive?           The same voice as when she was living.

            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?         Her appearance was the same as in life.

            How clearly did the deceased appear?            Solid

            How much of the deceased did you see?       I could see head to toe.

            Did the deceased appear or not appear to be the age at which they died?       She appeared the same age

            How healthy did the deceased appear to be?            She looked perfectly healthy.  She died in an auto accident when she was thrown from the car and the car rolled on her.

            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?        3-5 minutes

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

Could you sense the emotions or mood of the deceased?           Yes    She was smiling

Did the deceased give you information you did not previously know?  no

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:           I saw and talked to my friend.

            Was the experience dream like in any way?   No          

Describe in detail your feelings/emotions during the experience:           I was overjoyed to see my best friend.

Was there any emotional healing in any way following the experience?           Yes    My grief became more bearable.

What was the best and worst part of your experience?      Knowing she was "fine".

Has your life changed specifically as a result of your experience?         No      

Did you have any changes of attitudes or beliefs following the experience?   No      

Did the experience give you any spiritual understandings such as life, death, afterlife, God, etc.?  No           

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?   Yes

During a slumber party attended by friends, we had discussed whoever died first would come back, if possible.  Karen was part of that.

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?            I felt better, and didn't grieve so much.

Was the experience witnessed or experienced by others?           No

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?     No

Did you meet or see any other beings other than the deceased?            No

Did you see a light?           No

Did any part of your experience seem to occur in a place other than the location described above?            No

Have you shared this experience with others?         Yes     I told my mother.

Have you shared this experience formally or informally with any other researcher or web site?   No

Were there any associated medications or substances with the potential to affect the 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 

Did you ever in your life have a near-death experience, out of body experience or other spiritual event?           No 

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