I felt tremendous comfort and such a great sense of connection.  That's all that happened, but I have never forgotten the moment.  Since then I have always felt like I have a special guardian angel.  My grandfather was my step-grandfather, and he never had children of his own, so I believe I was the closest thing to a daughter that he ever had.  We always had so much fun together when I was young and I have such wonderful memories. 

It was awesome!

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 explained above

            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?  I think I heard it externally, but it was almost 40 years ago.  Can't really recall.

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

            Is there any possibility what you heard was from any other source present in the surroundings at the time of your experience?           Not a chance.  Driving in the car alone

            Was there any possible impairment to your hearing at the time of the experience?   Not a chance.  I was a teenager with impeccable hearing.

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

On my face

            Was the touch familiar or unfamiliar?   It was my grandfathers gesture of tenderness.

            Was anything communicated by the touch?  yes.   The familiarity of this gesture is something I had forgotten and never thought about after his death.   I didn't remember this as part of our routine together until after it happend.

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

Did you see the deceased?         No

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

            What smell, scent, fragrance or odor did you smell?           tobacco

            Was the smell, scent, fragrance or odor familiar?     OMG Yes!   I didn't remember that his hands smelled like that until after the event, but then I remembered that because he smoked camels, his hands always had a very manly odor to them.  It was a comforting smell and I did not dislike the scent.

            Was anything communicated by the smell?   Yes.  He communicated that it was him as clear as can be by providing  me with a memory that I had never even thought of .

            Is there any possibility that the smell, scent, fragrance or odor was from any other source present in the surroundings at the time of your experience?        no.

How long did the experience last?        a second or less

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

not really.  I guess I knew he was calm.

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:           The fact that I smelled, heard and felt my grandfather and he did something so familiar and yet so forgotten made it very real.

            Was the experience dream like in any way?   No

Describe in detail your feelings/emotions during the experience:           it happened so quickly.   I just had time to take in the experience, but not really feel anything until afterwards.

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

Somewhat.  I had not properly grieved my grandfather's death because I was young and confused.  This helped me to move forward with the entire process.  I was sad and comforted at the same time because I missed him.

What was the best and worst part of your experience?      Best= it was awesome

Worst = too short.  Never happened again.  Miss him so much and my love for him grew because he was so cool as to contact me after death!  I felt quite special, so I guess that goes back to "best" again!

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

Did you have any changes of attitudes or beliefs following the experience?   Yes     I felt so much more positive about things.  I had been in a sad rut that was almost emotionless.

Did the experience give you any spiritual understandings such as life, death, afterlife, God, etc.?            Uncertain      it gave me comfort and reaffirmed my beliefs.

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

I did when I was young.   Not as an adult.

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 smiled.  I felt great.  It was awesome!  I didn't tell anyone for some time.

Have you shared this experience with others?         Yes     I share it now to comfort others when I feel the timing is right and it's not insensitive.   I share it when the conversation comes up.

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?           Yes 

I had a spiritual event when I was 21 that I do not care to share at this time. It was unrelated to this event, but was life altering.

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