At the time of this experience I was living with my father and step-mother in Nashville, TN and was working as a bank teller. I went to Sewanee to spend the week-end visiting my boyfriend, who attended the University of the South. We went to parties Friday and Saturday nights and went hiking and pick-nicking on Saturday. I slept both nights in the dorm room of a girl who was away for the week-end. I was up late on Saturday night, so I was still asleep at noon on Sunday.

I awoke to find myself sitting up in bed with tears streaming down my cheeks saying "Frank! Frank!". At that moment, the Carillion bells from the Episcopal Church started playing. I know the time was noon, because that is the time when the bells would play sort of a big musical production. I had no memory of a dream, which seemed strange. Usually, when I awake suddenly, I remember what I was dreaming about even if the dream is something quite ordinary such as walking my dog. On this occasion I remembered nothing from the time I went to sleep until I woke up weeping. I felt very anxious about Frank and drove straight back to Nashville instead of staying until Sunday evening as planned. When I got home, I asked my father where Frank was living and asked if he thought we should go see him. I didn't tell anyone about my strange experience. He said Frank was now living in an apartment by himself, not working, but spending his time writing a novel. My father said he had expressed concern to my grandmother and aunt about this living situation in light of Frank's serious mental illness. They had brushed aside his concerns. They said Frank came to the house every Sunday for lunch and was doing fine. My father did not want to go with me to Frank's apartment and, for some reason, I was afraid to go by myself. I continued to feel very uneasy about Frank all day Sunday.

The next morning, Monday, my step-mother woke me with the news that Frank had been found dead in his apartment from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. I wept again, but I was not shocked or surprised. I believe I already knew it in my spirit. My aunt and grandmother were worried when Frank did not come for lunch on Sunday. They tried his phone all day and finally went to his apartment at about 1 am on Monday. They found him dead. The coroner said that Frank had died about 12 hours before they found him. I believe Frank visited me at the time of his death even though I have no memory before the point at which I was sitting up weeping and calling his name. I never told my aunt or grandmother about my experience and have only recently told it to a few people.

Was this experience difficult to express in words?  No

Did you ONLY sense an awareness of presence of the deceased without actually seeing, hearing, feeling or smelling them?            Uncertain

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

            Is there any possibility what you heard was from any other source present in the surroundings at the time of your experience?           NO. It was very quiet until the bells started ringing.

            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?            Uncertain

            Is there any possibility what you felt was from any other source present in the surroundings at the time of your experience?  I was alone in the room.

Did you see the deceased?         Uncertain

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

How long did the experience last?        I don't know

Was the beginning and end of the experience gradual or more sudden?         I don't know about the beginning because I was asleep. The end seemed sudden. I should also mention that I have never walked or talked or sat up in my sleep. I am 60 years old now and this is the only time this (sitting up while asleep) has happened.

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

Did the deceased give you information you did not previously know?  I believe he informed me that he had died.

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 was busy with my own life and had not seen or talked to my cousin, Frank, during the 3 or 4 months before his death. Actually, I had not given him much thought at all. The fact that my experience coincided with the time of his death, which took place 90 miles away, convinces me that it was real.
           
Describe in detail your feelings/emotions during the experience:           I was weeping and grieving but didn't know why. I only knew that it was for Frank.

Was there any emotional healing in any way following the experience?           No

What was the best and worst part of your experience?      The best part was that I was prepared, so the news the next day that he was found dead was not a shock. The worst part was, of course, that my cousin killed himself at the age of 25.

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

Did you observe or hear anything regarding people or events during your experience that could be verified later?          No The suicide of my cousin was certainly verified. My mourning for him was before his death had been discovered.

What emotions did you feel during the experience?            The rest of the day Frank was on my mind constantly with a terrible feeling of anxiety and foreboding.

Was the experience witnessed or experienced by others?           No

Did you have any sense of altered space or time?   Uncertain

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

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

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

Did you see a light?           Uncertain

Did any part of your experience seem to occur in a place other than the location described above?            Uncertain

Have you shared this experience with others?        

Yes     The few family members and friends I have told didn't know what to make of it any more than I did because we are all conservative Christians and this story doesn't fit with our views of death and Heaven and Hell.

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