I was asleep and I had a dream that I saw my father.  It was the first time I have seen my father in a dream since he died. I have tried everything to allow myself to dream of him but it never happened until this time. 

In the dream he was on a sidewalk and I think my mom was on his left side but I'm not sure.  He looked just like his regular self in his grey zippered sweatshirt.  I can't remember if I said to him "Oh my god, there you are!" but I know I thought it.  I ran up to him and wrapped my arms around his right arm (which was on my left because he was facing me).  He wrapped his arms around me and hugged me with a giant very real bear hug. 

In the midst of this hug I was consciously thinking "but is this a dream or is this real?" and I was somehow alert enough to feel a bit sad and tell myself perhaps it was only a dream.   

Then I woke up.  The hug continued even though I woke up.  I could feel the hug all around me even though I sleep on my belly.  I could even feel it around my front like he was in front of me, but I could feel the mattress too so I know I wasn't laying on a pillow or anything to give the odd sensation.  I was completely shocked because this lasted a good 20 seconds during which time I was awake.  The room was entirely pitch dark.  I was trying to rationalize that it was my husband.  When the feeling left I reached out expecting him to be rolled over really close to me but he was a normal distance away, asleep, facing the other direction in a fetal position.  I woke him up and explained what happened.  He thought it was cool and he was certain he didn't hug me. 

It is interesting because my other connection with dad was through touch when I felt his hand on my shoulder (#979). 

The other thing that happened was once I was asking him for a sign and without thinking I said "maybe let me find pennies".  Then I decided that was too vague because everyone finds pennies.  I decided to pick a certain decade.  I couldn't decide which decade.  I was thinking 1970's but didn't quite decide.

Then I parked my car (my car is where the first touch experience happened) and went into a store. I checked the car seats when I got out just kind of as a joke to see if there were pennies even though I hadn't quite decided on a decade yet.  There were  no pennies.  I went in a store for a few minutes and when I went back to the car I swear to God there was a penny on the driver's seat.  I picked it up thinking "man, if this is from the 1970's I'll freak!".  Would you believe the penny had no year on it.  I have shown so many people and there is no year. It must be a collector's item.  I realized that I hadn't conclusively decided "which decade" so maybe I received a "no decade" penny in response.  Since that penny every penny I have found in an odd place has been from the 1970s.  Every one.

Have you had multiple experiences?    Yes   

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?         

No

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

no

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

Yes

I giant bear hug around my body while I was on my stomach on the mattress.

            Was the touch familiar or unfamiliar? 

It was my father's hug

          Was anything communicated by the touch? 

Just love.

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

None that I can explain.

Did you see the deceased?       

Yes

In the "dream" I saw him.  He looked normal and didn't say anything except for a big smile.  I couldn't see his face once the hug started.

            How clearly did the deceased appear?            Solid

            How much of the deceased did you see?       I only remember waist up but I think it was all of him

            Did the deceased appear or not appear to be the age at which they died?            Same age

            How healthy did the deceased appear to be?            Fairly healthy, much better than when he died

            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?      

About a minute or two

Could you sense the emotions or mood of the deceased?         

Yes

Lots of love

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:  

Because it lingered after I was fully awake.

          Was the experience dream like in any way? 

Yes

at the start

Describe in detail your feelings/emotions during the experience:        

just relaxed and natural like it was normal

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

Uncertain

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

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

my husband and i will try to communicate somehow, no specifics yet.

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?          confusion and happiness

Was the experience witnessed or experienced by others?          No

Have you shared this experience with others?       

Yes    They just said casually that it was nice.  Most were freaked out by the penny.

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