My dream started out with me being in a beautiful garden that was built on various levels of steppes.  Each steppe was about 9 feet high.  The garden was lush, verdant.  I was standing there in amazement and then saw two men walking toward me with their arms around each other shoulders.  Then I realized it was my Uncle Joe and Grandpa (both deceased and the only two in my dad's immediate family who have passed).  I said aloud "Hey there Uncle Joe."  He and my grandpa were radiant.  I can't adequately describe how healthy and vibrant they looked.  Both had very thin frames and gauntness when they passed and they looked as if they were both fully restored to health.  Then my Uncle turned to his dad and said (in exactly his East Texas accented voice) "Look, Daddy, Tree-ha's here."  (Tree-ha is a nickname I received from Uncle Joe's daughter when she was very young.) I was smiling at both of them and so happy for them.  Then they disappeared down to the next steppe and I was unable to figure out a way down.  There was no ladder and the soil would crumble if you tried to climb down.   I could see them far off in the distance and then they just disappeared from view. Then I woke up.   Right after I woke up I remember thinking how good it was to see Uncle Joe and then I remembered that he had passed away.  Here is the really weird part.  I called my mom later that day  to tell her about this experience because it was so vivid and seemed so real. After we had been talking for a little while she asked me what Uncle Joe was wearing - I told her it was strange because he had on a long sleeve khaki shirt and pants and soft suede-like work boots. My mom then gasped and said that I wouldn't have known this, but for the last 2 years he wore a khaki shirt and pants every day to garden in. In his retirement, Uncle Joe had a wonderful garden (as did my grandpa before him) and sold produce at local farmer's markets. I was unaware that he wore the khaki shirt and pants frequently as I had been living in Arizona and returned to the area where my family lived only within the last year.  I had seen my Uncle only 2 times, once at Thanksgiving and once in April at my Grandmother's 90 birthday party.  He was not wearing khaki shirt and pants at either event.      My grandpa had on a dark gray work shirt but I can't remember what else he was wearing.  Uncle Joe was the only one who talked and interacted with me.  Grandpa just stood there smiling at me.

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:    In the dream he only said 4 words, but they were clear and in his voice.

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

            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

Once again, in the dream he looked as he did about 20-25 years ago.  Just a happy guy in his mid-40's I would guess.

            How clearly did the deceased appear?            Solid

            How much of the deceased did you see?       whole body

            Did the deceased appear or not appear to be the age at which they died?       no - he was about 25 years younger I would guess

            How healthy did the deceased appear to be?            extremely healthy - I had not seen him in about 5 months prior to his passing.  He was frailer and thinner the last time I saw him.

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

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

contented, happy

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

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:           the detail of what he was wearing and me being unaware of his daily work clothes for gardening.

            Was the experience dream like in any way?   Yes

it was a dream but a very colorful, detailed dream         

Describe in detail your feelings/emotions during the experience:           confused as to where I was then giddy when I realized in the dream who was approaching me.

What was the best and worst part of your experience?      Best part - seeing my Uncle in the prime of his life, knowing he and my grandpa are together.

Worst part - it was so short and I realized I wasn't allowed, able, etc. to go where the were going.

Has your life changed specifically as a result of your experience?         Yes                 Describe:      I was very happy today, the day after the dream.
           
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.?  Yes     I believed in the afterlife to begin with, but this helped to cement that belief even further.

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?            little bit of a letdown I wanted to talk to him more

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

I saw my grandpa, his dad.

Did you see a light?           No

Have you shared this experience with others?        

Yes     My mother was supportive.  She thought it was interesting and wondered if it would comfort the rest of his family, but didn't know if their religious beliefs would allow them to derive comfort from my experience.   I also told my husband, he is more skeptical, but he did think it was strange.  He also said no matter what, it should comfort you.

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