I think it was the second night after Laura passed when I had a dream with her in it. A few other weird things happened within those first few days but I'll get to that later. In my dream, I was dying and eventually died. I went through some small door opening that was lit brightly and she was there! It was good to see that she was ok and the first thing I wanted to do is look for a dog I had who was named Arlo. Funny thing is that we adopted Arlo along with Selma when the 3 of us lived together in an apartment by USF. But once we all went our separate ways Arlo stayed with me and died in 2009 at 14 years of age. So, Laura and I go to a place where all the dogs live and it was an area full of kennels. But the dogs could come and go as they please. We started calling for Arlo and he showed up! It was awesome but when I woke up all I could do was cry because I miss them both yet it was comforting to see her and Arlo doing just fine. Hopefully they stick together up there!
 |
| Arlo at our place in Ohio |
You know how unexplainable things happen sometimes and it makes you feel like the person is present? Rich, her husband, actually has a couple really good examples of this and basically it was her presence that let him to decide on laying her to rest at the Gan Shalom Cemetary. He literally lost power to his phone, then his computer shut down as he was trying to find the number to call a different cemetary. This clearly told him she wanted to be at the Jewish Cemetary! The sweetest part of this is that Rich also bought a plot right beside her for himself so one day the kids don't have to worry about what to do when his time is called.
 |
| Gates to Gan Shalom Cemetary, beautiful place. |
Laura loved to play tricks and her co-workers along with family and friends could all vouch for that! The day after she passed her little sister, Linda, walked into Laura's room and turned on the light then headed to use the master bathroom. As she got to the bathroom the lights went out! ...I probably would have wet my pants if this were me!... Anyway, for some reason a picture frame (That Linda gave to Laura years ago about being sisters and friends) decided to fall off the wall and it hit the light switch. Crazy huh?! Also, my phone was dropping calls and not keeping a charge that first week she was gone. It happened when Rich called me in the middle of the night to tell me she passed. We talked awhile and then all of a sudden our call dropped for no reason! It happened all day and I never have those kinds of issues with my phone! It seems to be working fine now. I think maybe she was playing tricks on me.
 |
| Linda, Mike, Karen, & Laura (Reiner siblings) |
Strange things happen when someone you love passes away. I don't know if it's actually them visiting us or if it's us reaching for something to help get through what we don't know. I had another dream last night with Laura in it. Sadly I died in this dream too! In both dreams I die the same way and it's from cancer and there is some time in limbo going back and forth between living and dying. I feel scared but once I pass through the lit doorway I feel better. Laura was waiting for me just like the last time. We got separated at one point becasue we were trying to find an auditorium that was doing a dance show, go figure. But we met up again then I don't remember the rest of the dream. At least I was reassured that she's doing ok! It sure does make me miss her even more when this happens but that's ok.
I am not the most religious person but as I get older and go through more trials and tribulations in life I seem to gain more faith. This is something I plan to discuss in my next blog becasue so many of us struggle with it yet we hope there is something out there. With Laura being gone I REALLY hope she's up there will all our loved ones having the time of her life eating Mexican food and running around in sleepy pants with a camera around her neck. Oh, and I hope she is singing for everyone too! If you don't believe in anything, where does it mean when someone dies - is that the all time end? I doubt it. I hope not.
I am not the most religious person but as I get older and go through more trials and tribulations in life I seem to gain more faith. This is something I plan to discuss in my next blog becasue so many of us struggle with it yet we hope there is something out there. With Laura being gone I REALLY hope she's up there will all our loved ones having the time of her life eating Mexican food and running around in sleepy pants with a camera around her neck. Oh, and I hope she is singing for everyone too! If you don't believe in anything, where does it mean when someone dies - is that the all time end? I doubt it. I hope not.
 |
| The family is traveling and collecting rocks to bring back for Laura. It's a Jewish tradition to place rocks on their resting place and Laura loved to travel so they are doing this for her. She's missing from this picture but makes me wonder if she's right there with them.... |
