A Man Named Jim by Edie Holdgrafer

A MAN NAMED JIM

James Henry Holdgrafer was born in Webster City , Iowa on June 24, 1933. He was the second born child of John Anton Holdgrafer and Grace Irene Miner . 3 girls and 3 boys. Margaret, was the oldest. Jim was next, followed by Florence, Dorothy, Butch and Denny. He learned so much as a young man doing all kinds of odd jobs, driving tractors, trucks and even helped to build his parents home. Back in Iowa, there is weather problems of tornado’s, so all houses have big full size basements. Theirs was 2 bedroom and laundry room in the basement and all the other living rooms plus 2 bedrooms and bathroom were upstairs. During weather warnings, they would go down into the basement till it was clear again. It was a good life and Jim endured and loved every bit of it.

He had a zest for work and play. He raced in some of the first stock cars to come upon America’s sports to love, and farmed and did so many things around the farm, that anybody knew he could do anything that came along. He went into the U.S Air Force in l953 until l960. He also got married sometime in these years. He had 4 sons and 1 daughter and being in the service put a real strain on his marriage. That is why he chose to leave the service at 7 years instead of carrying on with it to career status. He still continued to do as much as he could to keep his family above board in life and they lived in Victorville and Apple Valley California with horses and a good country life. Jim always was more comfortable in cowboy boots, levi’s , cowboy shirts and even a straw cowboy hat. Riding and trimming horses was his real love. He even worked for Roy Rogers’ riding stable at the Apple Valley Inn. He took people out on horseback rides in the desert. He dearly loved it. He split from his wife after 17 years and she had remarried.

He went back to Iowa and was working back there, when Johnny, one of his sons went back there to work with his dad. Jim brought him back out to California, in his truck and ended up breaking his knee by stepping down off a horse wrong. It kept him flat and some good people took pity upon him and helped him. He lost his truck over not having a job to send payments, but he paid those nice people back by being a bartender and cook for the man who owned the apartments and the bar he ended up working in, even though he was on crutches. THE LONG HORN BAR. That is where one day I walked in after my cashier shift at the 76 Truck stop about 9:30a.m. where I had my kids already gone to school and I stopped for a cup of coffee, and a breakfast coffee-cake before heading home to the empty house and trying to go to sleep. Jim was wiping down the bar and his boss and the boss’ wife were at the pool tables and said to Jim: “Hey Jim, come play with us some pool, and asked me if I would be Jim’s pool partner,” I answered, that “I was not a very good pool player”, and His boss said “that is ok. Maybe that way, I can win him!” Jim and I hit it off together right away, and we were together for 26 years. I mean to say 26 unforgettable, wonderful years. I immediately took him to a doctor and they operated and fixed his knee.

He was the kindest, most easy to get along with person I had ever met and I felt like the luckiest person in the world, with him in my life. He never had a bad word to say about anyone. Any problem could be talked out and solved. He was always the smiley one. He loved to talk. And talk we did for 26 years. His family fell right into the groove with my 6 boys and we breezed back and forth living in different places, with the kids marrying and doing their own thing as they turned of age. We were all together in a motel in Riverside. Jim and I managed and almost bought, except I became ill and had to quit work for a while.. We went back to Iowa and stayed a couple years in which I worked at the truck stop and the boys all worked there too, either in the kitchen as cook and dishwasher, or out on the gas islands. I don’t quite remember why, but then, back to Riverside to rent a farm -house in Riverside. All the boys’ slept in a bunkhouse, outside the main house that was a small 2bedroom house. It had room for rabbits, chickens, horses, a mule, and we had it all. Even a guinea hen to warn us of strangers, and a delightful Australian shepherd named Lady. Life was great. We would drive around and Jim would offer to do any odd jobs including trimming horses etc. The kids would work with Jim, go buy groceries, cigarettes, and a little beer and cokes and we would happily go home and either watch t.v. or chat outside on the shady patio in the summertime. We named it “THE LAZY H RANCH” and the boys’ painted the truck red and white and we put Jim and Edie on the doors and Lazy H Ranch and phone number on it and we got a lot of attention wherever we went. All surrounding that ranch was a church on one opposite corner and houses all around. Some property owners put a bid on that 3 acres and we were asked to move for them to sell it. They tore it up and put in a lot of apartments. I imagine people missed us when we moved for people would stop in front of our house to watch the activities, like Lady slapping a bowling ball along a path, picking it us with her front teeth and carrying it back to the beginning and doing the slapping along the path over and over again. People also stopped to see the horses and talk to us when we were out riding the horses. Jim and I were out one day on 2 of the horses and I was not a very good horse rider and the horse named Cinders took off across a highway with me and luckily there was no traffic to hit us. I rode the other horse, named Jamie home and as I got dumped off that horse and Jim laughed, stepped off of Cinders and let it follow the other one that was galloping away ahead of us. He walked with me and we went several blocks before we found where the horses had found a couple of young men and they were having a ball riding them around on a vacant lot. We recaptured the hooves and took them home. After that I got a huge old horse and never fell off of him even though he would start up hill and gallop along till he reached the top. We named him Colonel. He was so big I fit perfectly in his saddle. We also had a miniature horse named Trinket . Jim was taking a lady named Sharon to horse shows and she had several miniature horses. One night at the auction I was walking around by myself and happened to go by the stable they were having an auction. I thought it was a nice sellable pony I raised my hand to buy for $35.00. Boy did I get razzed forever on that one. It turned out to be a mule. I would come home from work at midnight and that donkey would start in with its’ braying and I had to hurry indoors and grab something out of the refrigerator and run it out to give to her to shut her up. Course she made noise 3 or 4 times , so I got so I carried stuff in the car, and I could reach down , run out and give it to her before she would build up to bray for the first time. A cinch. Ha ha. I don’t want to talk about what happened to this poor animal, but --- the family knows!! Jim and I worked together in several jobs over the years. Bartending, cooking, managing apartments buildings and anything where we could be partners together. Life was sweet and even though it was hard, Jim always had his smiles and sweet disposition and loved life every day of his life.

He had a saying.
IF IT HURT TO DO IT -----DON,T DO IT--THAT WAS HIS MOTTO
LIFE ISN’T HOW MUCH SCHOOLIN YOU HAD-- LIFE WAS HOW YOU LIVED YOUR LIFE FROM DAY TO DAY
AND NOT HURT OTHERS BUT TO HELP OTHERS AS WELL AS YOURSELVES!!!!!!

Yes. I think people in that area missed us a lot and most likely wish the old ranch, was still there, instead of the apartments that are now there. I know I will never forget the wonderful memories of life on the Lazy H Ranch. Then we moved to a piece of property with a lot for horses in Fontana, Calif. We put up a big white fence and improved that property as well. We still carried the name of Lazy H Ranch then, but the boys were very unhappy living there, being assaulted every time they walked down the street to the main street in that town. Bad people lived there, but out of living there, the twins found their niche in truck driving for Mendoza Trucking. it was not long till we left our sheep and some of our possessions to sell with a friend and left to Iowa once again. Jim had gone a couple weeks before us to secure a place , so I drove and hauled what we could and had one terrible trip with a blowout of a tire along the way. In some far out place along the way out in the middle of nowhere, all we had was flashlights and could not find the jack to jack up the wheel. We had the tire on the back of the truck but Ben had packed the jack forward and we had to get on the c.b. radio and ask for help.We just put a spotlight on the wheel and were spooked with all kinds of scorpions coming at us and we were lucky that a nice man stopped and helped us and we continued a terrible trip where the steering on the truck was to the breaking point, though I did not know how bad until we got there and Jim checked it out. It was only holding by a thread. But we made it. Ye Ha, as Jim said. Boy, we were so crowded and drove non stop for about 36 hours to get there, we almost kissed the ground on our knees. This trip back to Iowa landed us in the outskirts of Stratford, Iowa and Jim and the boys went to work for a factory of farm equipment named Ruben Lundberg Co. They all learned much there again. Driving , repair, painting you name it they learned it. As Jim would say, “A little bit of experience helps to go a long way.” The kids started hitting 17 18, and going there own ways and one by one they left for the service along the way of our trek back and forth everywhere.


We ended up living so many different places, Jim and I working in Las Vegas, Nevada. Jim worked the Pioneer Club, the one with the cowboy waving up on top the roof. I worked as a shill in a gambling hall across the street. He greeted and handed out tickets to the people and was a shining personable HOST and having a drawing every hour to give out prizes. He loved working in western costumes, which he wore anyway but really felt at home there in the gambling casino. He loved drinking and we just loved living there. Times were great. We moved on up to Sacramento in l982 and did apartment managing there for several years, going to Kansas City , to manage a complex our property management was going to buy. They paid our way back there and we were stranded because they did not buy it. Jim and I were stuck and ended up working the complex for that existing owner until he lost it in bankruptcy and we continued to empty it for the new owners. As soon as it was emptied of all tenants, we were let go with a nice bonus that brought us back again to Sacramento.

Before long in 1985 my daughters came back into my life after me not seeing them for 40 years and Jim wanted me to know my daughter, so we went up to Anchorage, Alaska and Jim was a Night Watchman with a badge and gun. I worked in the Captain Cook Hotel, which was a huge one stop layover for movie stars and ultra rich who were traveling oversees. The Hotel had everything. It was like to a shopping mall these days. Clothing stores, dry cleaners, restaurant, cocktail with other entertainment. Everything the people staying over could want to while away the time before their trip elsewhere. Jim would come sometimes at my lunch time and we would squeeze lunch in together. He also had a good time talking and meeting people and Tracey would go with him once in a while to the bar and introduce him around. We left Alaska to go once again to Sacramento. Then once again we left and went up to Reno. It did not last long and back once more to Oroville. This time to buy a trailer and live in an acreage that Ben owned. He lived with Debbie and she had three very nice children Jim liked so much. Jim broke his heel, shoving it up into his ankle. He had surgery but was disabled and started getting disability, but it took 3 different bunch of paperwork over three years for him to be approved for social security disability. In that time, we moved the trailer down to Sacramento to a nice trailer park and we loved our playing cards across the little table in the front
part of the trailer and we had taken the top bunk in back to make a shelf to put the big television. We really enjoyed living there and we met some nice friends there that Jim really enjoyed. He would smoke and drink with this one man named Hank and I would go to bingo and all around. Jim was in 7th heaven wherever he was comfortable and he was cooped up and comfortable with me in that little 17 ft. Trailer. Before long I hit 62 and retired and our income together gave us a real good ability to do lots of things together and we really enjoyed each other to the utmost.

Jim had lots of friends, having run into Bob Hermes one day in the truck, each stopping along side each other while Jim motioned to him to stop and asked him if he knew where he could get some chicken shit and Bob said Is rabbit shit ok? Follow me, I do have rabbits. They were buddies for many years. He also kept up seeing his friend Hank until Hank died from his drinking a couple years later. The fun Jim had was just talking about old times and right now, with me doing this writing, I wish I would have written down all the wonderful things that were talked about.

Casey asked us to come live with him, for he thought our living in that little trailer was too restrictive for us and he was unhappy with the ones he lived with and kept getting disappointed and thought that way he could help be there for us both. We moved in together and things worked out great. Jim had some quality years to follow but started getting more breathless toward 1993, so we moved from one apartment that had upstairs bedrooms to climb stairs to get to, that started affecting Jim, by his having to stop and get his breath every couple steps. We moved into a nice 3 bedroom house with a den. We could enjoy watching television, which Jim absolutely loved, and we’d sit right in the kitchen and watch t.v. all the time, never sitting in the living room. He could still drive and he’d go visit his friends Bob and Hank. He loved life as long as he had his beer and cigarettes.

Me too! We lived next door to my dear friend Anne, who was Jim’s daughter Berneta’s mother in law. Anne took care of Berneta’s son Bobby on a permanent basis. One day I had trouble with my heart and I had clogged arteries in my legs and was in a wheel chair. He wheeled me over next door and he went back home again. It was 1995. I was there with Anne and he did not come back like he was supposed to and finally Anne wheeled me home and we found Jim laying unconscious on the floor. He had hit his head and it was bloody. The first thing I looked for was if he was breathing as I called 911 and got the ambulance there to rush him off to the hospital. I did that from just a few months before when he was drunk and fell and hit his head in the hall and was not breathing and Casey, having been a paramedic previously in his working world, resuscitated him and got him breathing again, though Jim was in the hospital for a while. This time he was breathing when he was put into the ambulance, but before they reached the hospital, he stopped breathing and they resuscitated him and put him on life support. He had done some terrible damage on both sides of his brain, and they did surgery to repair it as best they could. But he was on life support, and they pronounced him dead but before they would take him off life support, some smart technician or nurse noticed he responded to water dropped on him and they quickly got him breathing again. We were all much relieved because they had done last rites on him and a pastor was with us at the moment they came saying he was breathing again and was not dead. Believe it or not, with his caved in head, he went on another 6 years to give his hearty smile and good personality too. During this time I had a 5 way Bypass surgery to my heart and we nursed each other to get well again. I sure was glad Bea and Casey were there to help with this. What a trauma, but Jim was just fine and he slowed down his drinking and things went well and Jim gave his all right up to the last with his lungs shutting down. He was happy with his family and life and never complained about anything but the pain he was suffering on a constant basis all his life. He had an electric wheel chair for the last few years of his life and still then he loved traveling around in it. In the final months he was put on Hospice, where people came to the house to check on him, but at the final time of real trauma he was taken to the hospital. In the hospital he was allowed to be put on an I V and be put gracefully in a sleeping condition, in order to be relaxed enough to let death take him. He died peacefully, out of pain.


I sleep right beside his picture, where I talk to him and tell him how much he meant to me all of our days together and wished it would still be going on. I tell him. I love you Jim, and I miss you so much. I will be joining you soon as God is willing. You have been a real blessing in my life and all who have known you.
Your loving wife Edie and family; you helped grow
and learn from you.
Jimmy, Johnny, Bea, Ben, Matt, Tim, Glenn, Les, Wes, Bart, Casey
Enjoy all your many friends and family who have gone
before you.
And save room for us all by your side.

COWBOY JIM
GONE NOW, THIS SWEET MAN; FROM EARTH TO HEAVEN ABOVE.
LEAVING LOVED ONES HERE, WITH SWEET MEMORIES OF LOVE.
YOUR TEACHINGS AND LOVE FOR ALL OF US, WILL STAY DOWN DEEP INSIDE
IN OUR HEARTS, OUR DEEP LOVE FOR YOU; WILL FOREVER, THERE ABIDE.
WE WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER HAPPY SMILES UPON YOUR SWEET FACE
ALL THE THINGS YOU DID; WE WERE AMAZED AT HOW WELL YOU KEPT THE PACE
YOU DID SOME REALLY WONDEROUS THINGS, THAT NOT EVERYONE GETS TO DO;
LIKE WORKING FOR ROY ROGERS AND TRIMMING AND RIDING HORSES TOO.
THERE WAS NOTHING YOU COULD NOT HAVE DONE, IF IT CAME YOUR WAY.
WE WILL ALWAYS KEEP YOU SPECIAL IN OUR HEARTS EVERY SINGLE DAY.
REST IN PEACE, NOW. GOOD MAN, FOR YOU HAVE EARNED YOUR PLACE TO BE.
WHERE YOU CAN DO ANYTHING YOU WANT AND SEE EVERYTHING YOU WANT TO SEE.
LOVE FOR YOU WILL ALWAYS BE IN MY HEART
REST IN PEACE, MY SWEETHEART
YOUR LOVING WIFE OF 26 YEARS
RIDE EM, COWBOY, HOPE IT’S ON SPARKY! 27 YEARS
I WILL KEEP COUNTING TOO, UNTIL I, TOO; JOIN YOU EDIE



THERE’S A VERY GOOD MAN, NAMED JIM
THE ONLY THING HE CAN’T DO; IS SWIM.
HE HELPED TO BUILD HIS PARENT’S HOME.
WITH A HARD JOB TO DO, HE’D NEVER ROAM.
HE SERVED HIS COUNTRY IN THE AIR FORCE,
FOR ALL HIS HARD WORK, HE SHOWS NO REMORSE.
HE WORKED FOR ROY ROGERS ---HE’S SO PROUD OF THAT
WHEN SURROUNDED BY COMPANY, HE LOVES TO CHAT.
HE TALKS OF THE OLD DAYS, GONE LONG AGO
IF ASKED FOR A FAVOR, HE IS READY TO GO
FOR ALL HIS GOOD DEEDS, ALL HE WANTS IS A THANKS
HIS FAMILY HOLDS HIM IN THE HIGHEST OF RANKS.
SURVIVING TWICE THE FALLS ON HIS HEAD
THE PATH OF LIFE, IS THE PATH HE WILL TREAD
WITH THE GOAL TO LIVING, HE REALLY THRIVES
HE IS DEFINITELY CALLED THE
CAT WITH NINE LIVES.
TEN LIVES
ELEVEN LIVES
TWELVE LIVES
AND NOW THIRTEEN LIVES
LOVE YOU NINE TIMES FOREVER, AND STILL COUNTING
YOUR LOVING WIFE; EDIE, AND FAMILY 3/4/97














WE MISS YOU JIM
A YEAR HAS GONE; COUNT THE DAYS. IMPOSSIBLE, YOU SAY?
HOW CAN IT BE POSSIBLE WITH SO MANY TEARS ALONG THE WAY?
THERE ARE ENOUGH TO FLOAT A BOAT: LIKE IN THE DAYS OF NOAH.
ONLY THE TEARS, THIS TIME, WILL NEVER STOP:
OVER YEARS MANY MORE WILL FOLLOW.
EACH TEAR SAYS, “I MISS YOU SO, AND WISH YOU STILL WERE HERE.
WE’D ALL JUST LOVE TO SIT WITH YOU: AROUND A TABLE;
JUST TO CHAT AND DRINK SOME BEER.”
SIGNED: ANYBODY AND EVERYBODY
WHO EVER KNEW YOU!

THE GOOD OLD DAYS

This is back when it all began
We all wish it still were here
Those wonderful days with family
And friends visiting and drinking beer
Oh, What Good Times We had
In those, The Good Old Days
We hoped they would last forever
We’d work very hard and then Laze
Such good memories, we all have
Of times when we were all together
We’d ride horses, feed chicks, and
Do odd jobs to make our home life better
We all remember the work and play
With friends and loved one along the way
As each one grew up and went their own way
The years did pass
FULL OF LOVE EACH AND EVERY DAY
C2002


COWBOY JIM


GONE NOW, THIS SWEET MAN; FROM EARTH TO HEAVEN ABOVE.
LEAVING LOVED ONES HERE, WITH SWEET MEMORIES OF LOVE.
YOUR TEACHINGS AND LOVE FOR US, WILL STAY DOWN DEEP INSIDE.
IN OUR HEARTS, OUR LOVE FOR YOU; WILL FOREVER, THERE ABIDE.
WE WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER HAPPY SMILES UPON YOUR SWEET FACE
ALL THE THINGS YOU DID; WE WERE AMAZED AT HOW YOU KEPT PACE.
YOU DID SOME REALLY WONDROUS THINGS NOT EVERYONE GETS TO DO;
WORKING FOR ROY ROGERS AND TRIMMING AND RIDING HORSES TOO.
THERE WAS NOTHING YOU COULD NOT AVE DONE IF IT CAME YOUR WAY.
WE WILL ALWAYS KEEP YOU SPECIAL; IN OUR HEARTS EVERY SINGLE DAY.
REST IN PEACE, NOW. GOOD MAN,
FOR YOU HAVE EARNED YOUR PLACE TO BE.
WHERE YOU CAN DO ANYTHING YOU WANT
AND SEE EVERYTHING YOU WANT TO SEE.

LOVE FOR YOU WILL ALWAYS BE IN MY HEART
REST IN PEACE, MY SWEETHEART;

RIDE EM, COWBOY, HOPE IT’S ON SPARKY!
EDIE 5/2000

Edie and Jim

Working With The Stars

JOURNEY BACK HOME by Edie Holdgrafer June 2001

A LITTLE ANT NAMED CHRIS WAS WORKING WITH HIS FAMILY ONE DAY AND AS HE WAS GOING ABOUT HIS TRAVEL FROM THE BASE OF A TALL PINE TREE, HE STOPPED A SHORT MINUTE TO REST AND UNKNOWINGLY, HE WAS STANDING UPON A PIECE OF COTTON FROM A MULBERRY TREE. IT HAD BEEN A LONG JOURNEY FROM THE ROOT OF THE TREE TO THE TOP OF THE TREE WHERE HIS COLONY FAMILY WERE PERFORMING THEIR DAILY TASK GATHERING FOOD FOR STORAGE TO HELP THEM ALL THROUGH THE FOLLOWING DAYS AHEAD. SOMETIMES IT WOULD RAIN, AND IT WOULD DELAY ALL THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS, FOR THEY WOULD STAY SHELTERED AND EAT UP THE RESERVES, SO THEY WOULD HAVE TO WORK TWICE AS LONG TO MAKE UP FOR ANY SHORTAGES TO MAKE THE RESERVES LARGE ENOUGH TO CARRY THEM THROUGH THE RAINY DAYS AHEAD OF THEM. HE WORKED EXTRA HARD TO MAKE HIS FAMILY HAPPY AND HE WAS ALWAYS READY THERE FOR ANY THING THAT WAS NEEDED OF HIM TO MAKE THEM PROUD OF HIM. AS HE RESTED AND CAUGHT HIS BREATH AND WAS JUST ABOUT TO START HIS TREK ONCE MORE, ALL OF A SUDDEN HE FOUND HIMSELF HANGING ON TO THE VERY COTTON HE HAD RESTED UPON, AND SUDDENLY LOOKING ABOUT HIM SAW THINGS AROUND HIM FLYING BY, ONLY IT WAS HIM THAT WAS FLYING, FOR A BREEZE HAD PICKED UP THE PIECE OF COTTONWOOD THAT HE WAS STANDING ON AND ROSE HIM HIGH INTO THE SKY, AS CHRIS GAINED HIS GRIP, HE FELT SUDDENLY WONDERFUL, AND LOOKING OUT AS THE BREEZE CARRIED HIM UP AND DOWN AND UP AND AROUND AND WOULD SLOW GENTLY TO FLOAT ALONG AND SEE EVERYTHING FROM A DIFFERENT VIEW THAN HE HAD EVER IMAGINED; HE FOUND HIMSELF IN A WONDERFUL UNKNOWN TRIP TO SOMEWHERE THAT HE NEVER EVEN KNEW EXISTED BEFORE NOW. HE WATCHED ALL IN FRONT OF HIM AS HE PROCEEDED IN A WAVY THRILL OF A RIDE. HE SAW TREES ALL AROUND AND WHAT WAS ALL THAT WATER BELOW HIM? HE HAD HEARD HIS ELDERS TALK OF TRIPS THEY HAD MADE MENTIONING BODIES OF WATER NAMED RIVERS AND LAKES. HE KNEW THIS MUST BE ONE OF THOSE TWO. AS HE FLOATED SLOWLY DOWN TOWARDS THIS WATER, SUDDENLY A BREEZE TOOK HIM HIGH AGAIN AND AS HE CAUGHT HIS BREATH AND GAINED HIS BALANCE , A SUDDEN THUD BROUGHT SOMETHING ELSE ONTO THE COTTON. WHATEVER THIS OBJECT WAS, THERE WAS SUDDENLY THIS DISTRESS CRY THAT MADE CHRIS LOOK CLOSELY, TO SEE A CREATURE, OBVIOUSLY CAUGHT IN A VERY AWKWARD POSITION THAT HAD HIS LEGS STRAIGHT UP AND KICKING. THE CREATURE SAID TO CHRIS. “HELP ME FRIEND, PLEASE” AS CHRIS USED ONE HAND HOLDING HIMSELF SECURELY LEAVING HIS OTHER HAND FREE TO TRY TO HELP. JUST THEN THE TWO OF THEM SETTLED INTO THE TOP OF A TREE, AND AS CHRIS GAINED HIS BALANCE, HE PROCEEDED TO THE SIDE OF THIS NEW FRIEND HE KNEW HE HAD TO HELP. HE PULLED THE COTTON AWAY AND LITTLE BY LITTLE CLEARED THE BACKSIDE OF THIS CRITTER . IT TURNED OUT TO BE SOME KIND OF WING.


AS THE CRITTER SHOOK ITSELF FREE AND COULD HELP ITSELF STAND UP STRAIGHT, SAYING; “ I THANK YOU MUCH MY FRIEND.” AS CHRIS LOOKED AT THIS GENTLE FACE THANKING HIM, HE SMILED AND REALIZED , THIS WAS A NICE FRIEND AS THE FRIEND SAT HIMSELF DOWN BESIDE CHRIS AND SECURED HIMSELF, LIKE CHRIS. THE CREATURE LOOKED AT CHRIS AND INTRODUCED HIMSELF. “MY NAME IS FLASH, MY GOOD MAN AND I AM A DRAGON FLY. WHAT HAPPENED HERE MY MAN?, I WAS FLYING ALONG AND MINDING MY BUSINESS AND SOMETHING GRABBED ME. WAS IT YOU?” “MY, MY, NO!” SAID CHRIS “I WAS TAKING A BREATH FROM MY WORK FOR A MOMENT AND THIS COTTON THING CAUGHT ME TOO AND I HAVE BEEN SEEING THINGS I HAVE NEVER BEFORE SEEN!” AS FLASH LOOKED ABOUT AND FINALLY REALIZED WHAT HAD HAPPENED HERE, HE LOOKED AT CHRIS AND SAID “OH, MY; I SEE YOU DO NOT HAVE WINGS TO FLY, LIKE ME. WHAT KIND OF DRAGON ARE YOU?” CHRIS LAUGHED WITH RELIEF AND SAID TO FLASH; “OH NO, I AM AN ANT AND MY NAME IS CHRIS, AND I HAVE NEVER BEEN UP SO HIGH EVER BEFORE!” THERE THEY SAT TALKING AND BRINGING EACH OTHER UP TO DATE ON EACH OTHERS LIVING CONDITIONS, AND THEY SHOOK HANDS AND BOTH AGREED THEY WERE INDEED HAPPY TO HAVE A NEW FRIEND IN EACH OTHER. SUDDENLY ANOTHER GUST OF WIND PICKED THEM UP ONCE AGAIN AND THEY GRABBED HOLD AND BOTH DID NOT SEEM TO BE SO AFRAID NOW. THEY WERE GENTLY FLOATING TOWARDS THE GROUND. JUST BEFORE THEY TOUCHED THE GROUND ANOTHER CREATURE GOT CAUGHT IN THE COTTON AND THEY ALL LANDED WITH A BIG SUDDEN BUMP. IT WASN’T TOO BAD, THROUGH , AND THEY WERE GIGGLING AS THEY GOT UP AND WENT OVER TO THIS NEW CREATURE, AND SET IT UP RIGHT AND FREE OF ANY TANGLES OF COTTON. IT WAS FRIGHTENED, BUT HEARING THE LAUGHTER, LOOKED AT BOTH THE CRITTERS THAT HAD HELPED HER UP AND SHE TOO, STARTED LAUGHING ALONG WITH CHRIS AND FLASH. FLASH INTRODUCED HIMSELF AND POINTED TO CHRIS AND INTRODUCED HIM. THE CREATURE SAID; “I AM A LADYBUG AND MY NAME IS LILA. I AM SO HAPPY TO MEET YOU.” IMMEDIATELY; CHRIS STOPPED GIGGLING AND SAID, “ WE ARE VERY GLAD TO MEET YOU TOO! THIS IS A REAL GOOD ADVENTURE I AM HAVING AND I AM ENJOYING IT, BUT FRANKLY, I AM WORRIED TOO, FOR I AM AFRAID I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO FIND MY WAY TO MY HOME AGAIN!” “OH, MY MAN, DON’T WORRY ABOUT THAT,’ SAID FLASH, “ I WILL HELP YOU FIND YOUR HOME AGAIN.” AND JUST THEN LILA TOO, SAID, “OH YES! I CAN SEE THAT YOU CAN NOT FLY, BUT YOUR FRIEND HERE AND I CAN, AND I TOO, WILL HELP IN ANY WAY ” WITH THAT ASSURANCE, THEY ALL STARTED THEIR LAUGHTER ONCE AGAIN WITH GREAT BIG SMILES ON EACH OF THEIR FACES.


LOOKING NOW; ALL AROUND THEM; THEY SAW THAT THEY HAD ALL SETTLED DOWN SAFELY ON THE GROUND AND THEY ALL DECIDED THEY WOULD COUNT TO THREE SLOWLY AND ON THE COUNT OF THREE, ALL STEP OFF THE COTTON AT THE SAME TIME. ONE – TWO--- THREE------- AND THEY ALL STEPPED FREE OF THE COTTON. THEY ALL AGAIN GIGGLED. THEY ALL FELT LIKE THIS WAS AN ADVENTURE FOR SURE AFTER ALL, THEY HAD NEW FRIENDS AND GOOD ONES AT THAT!


FLASH WAS THE TALLEST OF THE THREE BUT THEY ALL DECIDED THAT LILA WAS GOING TO LEAD THE WAY. SHE HAD TRAVELED ALL AROUND HERE, AND CHRIS HAD DESCRIBED THE TREE. SHE HAD A GOOD IDEA OF WHERE IT WAS, SO SHE TOOK OFF FLYING AND SOON RETURNED AND POINTED OUT THE DIRECTION IN WHICH THEY WOULD START OUT. SHE DECIDED, THAT EACH TIME THEY RESTED IN THEIR TREK; THAT AFTER A LITTLE WHILE SHE WOULD GO UP AND FLY AROUND TO SEE WHAT, IF ANY OBSTACLES THEY MIGHT COME UPON, AND MAYBE THAT WAY, THEY COULD AVOID ANY MISHAPS. THEY ALL AGREED THAT IT WAS ONE GREAT WAY TO STAY TOGETHER AND GET MORE ACQUAINTED WITH EACH OTHER AND ONE THING WAS VERY CLEAR; THEY ALL ENJOYED EACH OTHERS COMPANY VERY MUCH.


CHRIS TOLD THEM ABOUT HIS WORK WITH THE WHOLE COLONY AND HOW DEDICATED THEY ALL WERE TO SECURE A SAFE HAVEN FOR THE WHOLE COLONY TO SURVIVE THE WINTER WITH ENOUGH STOCK TO SEE THEM SAFE AND COMFORTABLE, AND LIVE AND ENJOY LIFE TO THE FULLEST. BUT ENOUGH OF HIM; HE WANTED TO KNOW ALL ABOUT FLASH AND LILA AND WHAT THEIR LIVES WERE LIKE BEING ABLE TO FLY WITH SUCH BEAUTIFUL WINGS. OH YES, MY GOOD MAN, I AM ABLE TO FLY, AND I DON’T KNOW WHAT IT WILL BE LIKE TO NOT BE ABLE TO FLY AND WALK EVERY WHERE I HAVE TO GO; BUT NOW WITH MY KNOWING YOU AND YOUR NEED TO FIND YOUR FAMILY HOME ONCE MORE, GIVES ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THAT WAY OF LIFE SO I THINK I AM TERRIBLY LUCKY TO HAVE MET YOU TOO, LILA; DEAR LADY. I FEEL SO HONORED TO MEET YOU TOO AND I ‘M ALSO, WANTING TO KNOW YOUR LIFE STORY TOO. BUT FIRST I WILL SAY THAT FLYING HAS BEEN A DUTY FOR MY FAMILY FROM THE BEGINNING. I FLY OFF IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION THAN MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS DO, AND WE ALL COLLECT POLLEN, AND DIFFERENT PIECES OF FOODS, SUCH AS AN APPLE THAT HAS FALLEN OUT OF THE TREE, I BREAK OFF SMALL PORTIONS AND CARRY IT BACK TO MY FAMILY.IT IS THE SAME WITH MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS. SOMETIMES WE DO FLY TOGETHER AND ENJOY THE COMPANY BUT MOST OF THE TIME WE ARE TOO BUSY GATHERING MORSELS AND BUILDING MATERIALS FOR OUR HOME AND SO WE ENJOY THE QUIET TIMES, LIKE NIGHT AND BAD WEATHER, TO STAY TOGETHER AND CATCH UP ON OUR INDIVIDUAL STORIES WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT. WAIT TILL I TELL THEM ABOUT THIS JOURNEY. THEY WILL ALL BE LISTENING WITH ANTICIPATION. WHAT ABOUT YOU LILA? WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU FLY AROUND? SHE HAD A BIG SMILE AND THE FIRST WORDS WERE. WOW! THAT IS THE SAME THING I DO WITH MY FAMILY. WE ALL EAT POLLEN, HONEY, SOME GRASSES AND CATCH LITTLE WEEDS. I AM SURPRISED THAT WE ALL DO MUCH THE SAME. I LOVE FLYING AND COLLECTING THINGS FOR MY FAMILY TOO. THEY ALL STARTED LAUGHING ONCE AGAIN AND STARTED THEIR TREK IN THE DIRECTION POINTED OUT BY LILA. THEY WALKED ALONG HAPPILY; TALKING OF MEMORIES AND HAPPENINGS IN THEIR LIVES AND REALLY ENJOYED IT.


THEY HAD WALKED QUITE A WAYS AND DECIDED TO SIT A SPELL AND MAYBE FIND SOMETHING TO EAT FOR THEY WERE ALL STARTING TO GET HUNGRY.
JUST AS THEY WERE SETTLING DOWN A VOICE CALLED OUT “HEY FLASH, WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN LATELY?” FLASH LOOKED UP TO SEE HIS FRIEND JACK, THE BEE. FLASH TOLD HIM THEY WERE ABOUT TO LOOK FOR SOME THING TO EAT, AND JACK SAID, “THERE IS EXTRA HONEY JUST OVER THIS WAY, NOT FAR;” AS HE POINTED TO THE EAST. “YOU ALL ARE WELCOME TO COME AND SIT A SPELL THERE WITH ME AND MY FAMILY.” FLASH INTRODUCED HIM ALL AROUND AND BROUGHT HIM UP TO DATE ON ALL THE TRAUMA THEY HAD BEEN THROUGH AND HOW FUNNY SOME OF IT HAD BEEN, AND THEY ALL FOUR STARTED LAUGHING ONCE AGAIN. THEY PICKED THEMSELVES UP AND STARTED OFF IN THE DIRECTION JACK HAD STARTED OUT IN. LILA AND FLASH WALKED WITH CHRIS TO MAKE SURE HE FOUND THE RIGHT PATH. WHEN THEY ARRIVED AT THE BEE COLONY, THEY WERE GREETED BY THE HUGE SWARM AS IF THEY WERE LIFE LONG FRIENDS AND ALL SAT AROUND, ATE HONEY AND LAUGHED AND TOLD STORIES TO EACH OTHER ABOUT ALL THE THINGS THAT HAPPEN TO EACH AND EVERYONE OF THEM AND HAD SUCH A WONDERFUL TIME. BEFORE LONG THEY HAD TO THANK THEM ALL AND TAKE OFF ON THEIR TREK AGAIN. LILA HAD FLOWN ABOUT AND KNEW THE DIRECTION THEY COULD TAKE AND AFTER TALKING WITH JACK, WHICH ALSO KNEW THE AREA VERY WELL, HE HAD CONFIRMED IT AS SAFE. SO THEY ALL STARTED OUT AND THANKED THE BEE COLONY AND JACK FOR HIS WONDERFUL FOOD AND ALL SAID THEY HOPED TO MEET AGAIN SOON.


THEY WALKED AGAIN AND MADE A GAME OF SKIPPING, HOPPING AND LAUGHING AS THEY WENT ALONG THEIR WAY AND AFTER A LITTLE WHILE THEY STARTED SMELLING SWEET, WONDERFUL ODORS OF FLOWERS OR PLANTS. VERY SHORTLY THEY ARRIVED AT A WONDERFUL VIEW OF PURPLE VIOLETS AND WILD POPPIES AND DECIDED TO SIT AGAIN FOR A SHORT RESPITE. AS THEY DID SO, A BEAUTIFUL BUTTERFLY CAME NEAR AND LANDED ON A FLOWER AND CHRIS POINTED AND SAID “OH LOOK AT THAT BEAUTIFUL CREATURE!” AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE BUTTERFLY WAS SO STARTLED THAT IT SCREAMED OUT AND ANOTHER BUTTERFLY CAME TO ITS SIDE AS IT LANDED ON THE GROUND AND ASK IT IF IT WERE ALRIGHT? FLASH, CHRIS AND LILA ALSO RUSHED TO IT’S SIDE TO APOLOGIZE FOR SCARING IT THAT WAY. THE BUTTERFLIES LOOKED AT THE THREE OF THEM AND IMMEDIATELY SETTLED DOWN, REALIZING THEY WERE NOT IN ANY DANGER HERE. FLASH INTRODUCED THE THREE TO THE BUTTERFLIES, AND THE MALE BUTTERFLY INTRODUCED HIMSELF AS CALVIN AND HIS LADY BUTTERFLY WAS NAMED BUBBLES. AS THEY ALL SETTLED DOWN AND TOLD OF THEIR JOURNEY TO GET CHRIS BACK HOME, THE BUTTERFLIES ALSO FELT THEY WERE LUCKY TO HAVE MET THESE NICE ONES AND LEARN OF THE DIFFERENT BUT THE SAME THINGS IN ALL OF THEIR LIVES. THEY ALL ATE MUCH THE SAME FOODS AND TOLD OF THE GATHERINGS FOR ALL THEIR FAMILIES AND REALLY ENJOYED ALL THE STORIES THAT ONCE MORE WERE BEING REVEALED WITH THE FRIGHTS AND THE LAUGHTER AND THE JOURNEY THAT WAS BEFORE THEM TO HELP CHRIS. HE WAS THE ONLY ONE AMONG THEM; THAT DID NOT HAVE WINGS TO FLY. THEY WELCOMED ALL THEY COULD HEAR ABOUT THIS CUTE AND NICE CREATURE. THEY ALL HAD A SMILE ON THEIR FACES. THEY WERE HAVING THE TIME OF THEIR LIVES AND LOOKING FORWARD TO WHAT THEY COULD ALL DO TO HELP IN ANY WAY THEY COULD.
AS EVENING WAS APPROACHING THE BUTTERFLIES PROMISED TO COME BACK TO HELP THEM ON THEIR JOURNEY IN THE MORNING AND THEY WERE FLYING HOME TO DO THEIR DUTIES AND INFORM THEIR FAMILY TO EXPECT THEIR ABSENCE FOR AWHILE. THEY SAID GOODBYE AND FLEW OFF. LILA, CHRIS AND FLASH SETTLED INTO A BIG BUSH FOR THE NIGHT AND ALL STAYED CLOSE TO PROTECT EACH OTHER. THEY HEARD CRICKETS AND SETTLINGS OF OTHER CREATURES, BUT THEY FELT SAFE ALL TOGETHER AND SOON ALL WENT OFF TO SLEEP.


AS CALVIN AND BUBBLES WERE FLYING TOWARD THEIR HOME, THEY TALKED AND CALVIN SAID, “I WONDER IF THIS LAKE BENEATH THEM WILL BE IN DIRECT ROOT OF WHERE THEY ALL PLAN TO TRAVEL. YOU KNOW, THAT ONE NAMED CHRIS HAS NO WINGS AND NONE OF US ARE BIG ENOUGH OR STRONG ENOUGH TO CARRY HIM.” THEY WERE ALMOST HOME WHEN THEY SAW ONE OF THEIR FRIENDS DOWN UPON THE WATER THAT WAS HIS HOME. HIS NAME WAS DARBY. “HEY DARBY!” THEY HOLLERED DOWN TO HIM;” HAVE YOU GOT A MINUTE, FOR US?” AS THEY CAME NEAR, HE RESPONDED TO THEM, SAYING “YES, I SURE DO!” CALVIN SPOTTED ANOTHER FRIEND NEAR BY THE SHORE, AS HE WAS SETTLING DOWN ON THE BANK TO AWAIT DARBY. IT WAS THEIR FRIEND, FROGGY; WHO ONCE VISITED THEM AT THEIR HOME AND CAME AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE TO KEEP IN TOUCH. “WELL, HELLO THERE FROGGY, HOW ARE YOU DOING?” AND GOT A GENTLE SMILE FROM HIM AS HE JUMPED OFF THE LILLY PAD INTO THE WATER AND SWAM OVER TO TALK WITH THEM ON THE SHORE. THERE THEY AWAITED DARBY TO JOIN THEM. WHEN DARBY ARRIVED THEY TOLD HIM ABOUT THEIR MEETING WITH CHRIS, FLASH, AND LILA AND DARBY LISTENED WITH ENTHUSIASM AS THEY EXPLAINED THE HAPPENINGS OF CHRIS’ FLIGHT ON THE COTTONWOOD AND THE EXCITEMENT THEY ALL WENT THROUGH AND ENDED UP WHERE THEY WERE ALL GIGGLING AND ENJOYING THE THOUGHT OF BEING OF HELP TO SOMEONE, AS CALVIN WAS ASKING IF DARBY WOULD BE AVAILABLE TO TAKE CHRIS ACROSS THE LAKE. “OF COURSE!” SAID DARBY; “IT WILL BE AN HONOR TO BE OF HELP TO ONE WHO HAS NO FLIGHT OR FLOATING ABILITIES.” THERE THEY ALL SETTLED DOWN; AS NIGHT WAS FINALLY UPON THEM. THE FOUR OF THEM WERE TOGETHER IN SOME BRUSH AROUND THE BOTTOM OF A BIG PINE TREE. THEY TALKED AND LAUGHED AND HAD A GOOD TIME, UNTIL THEY FELL ASLEEP. EARLY THE NEXT MORNING, CALVIN AND BUBBLES TOOK FLIGHT TO RETURN TO THEIR HOME AND PREPARE THEIR FAMILY FOR THEIR ABSENCE AND TELL THEM ABOUT THEIR TASK. CHRIS AWOKE FIRST AND STAYED QUIET MUNCHING ON HIS BREAKFAST HONEY UNTIL THE OTHERS AWOKE FOR THE DAYS TRAVEL TOGETHER. AS THEY WAITED FOR CALVIN AND BUBBLES TO RETURN, THEY HAPPILY CHATTED TOGETHER AND REALLY ENJOYED THEIR NEW FRIENDSHIPS. IT WAS NOT TOO MUCH OF A WAIT WHEN CALVIN AND BUBBLES BOTH WERE IN SIGHT AND LANDING NEXT TOO THEM ON A BUSH. FROGGY ASKED IF ANY OF THEM WANTED TO HOP UPON HIS BACK, BUT THEY ALL AGREED IT WAS AN ADVENTURE TO WALK ALONGSIDE CHRIS AND LOOKED AT IT AS A REAL ADVENTURE. THEY WALKED AND TALKED AND SLOWED DOWN THEIR PACE AS THEY NEEDED TO FOR CHRIS TO KEEP UP WITH THEM. THEY RESTED ALONG THE WAY AS THE TWO BUTTERFLIES GUIDED THEM WITH THEIR FLIGHT FROM BUSH TO BUSH, AS THEY COULDN’T WALK ALONG THE GROUND LIKE THE FOUR OF THEM. WHEN THEY REACHED THE SIDE OF THE LAKE THEY ALL RESTED AND GOT AQUAINTED WITH DARBY, THE DUCK. THEY ALL ENJOYED SO MUCH TO HEAR OF EACH ONES WAY OF LIFE AND MARVELED THAT THEY WERE ALL MUCH THE SAME OBJECTIVES IN LIFE. TO WORK, TO GATHER FOOD, AND PROTECT THEIR FAMILIES AND ENJOY EACH OTHER’S COMPANY. DARBY SETTLED INTO THE WATER NEXT TO THE SHORE, AND ONE BY ONE THEY HELPED CHRIS AND THEN THEMSELVES ONTO DARBY’S BACKSIDE. THEY THEN, HAD ANOTHER ADVENTURE AS DARBY STARTED FLOATING AND SWIMMING LIKE A BOAT TO THEM; AND THEY REALLY HAD A GOOD TIME ON THEIR TREK TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE LAKE. THEY KNEW THIS WAS ONE JOURNEY AND AN ADVENTURE THEY WOULD NEVER FORGET.


FOR THE REST OF THE JOURNEY TO THE TREE WHERE CHRIS LIVED, THEY ALL STAYED TOGETHER AND KNEW THAT FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES, THEY HAD MADE AN UNFORGETTABLE JOURNEY AND MADE SOME UNFORGETTABLE FRIENDS AND KNEW THERE WERE STILL AHEAD OF THEM, MANY MORE FRIENDS TO MEET ALONG THAT ROAD CALLED LIFE.

THE END

EDIE FRAHM as a young girl

Edie at 6 years old

Edie and Brother Raymond

The earliest photo found is this one from the 1930's with Edie Frahm holding her little doll and supporting her brother Raymond who was born a "blue baby" as I remember---please correct me if this is wrong.

Edie as a teenager

about 15 years old

Edie at 16 years

Edie's High School Class 1947-48

Just One Night by Edie Holdgrafer August 2001

My whole life is passing before my eyes. My eyes, so teary; I must realize that God granted me a good life; for which I’m so grateful; with loving family, my heart’s so full. And now I know my time will come soon as room for me will take me home. Home is where we all will go at the end of life when Heaven will Glow. It will beckon all to come at their life’s ending to go home. Where loved ones before me have already gone. I know they beckon to me alone; to tell me I’m wanted there with them. I know with them, I will blend in for I’ll get the chance to hug my dear sweet Mother that I never got enough time to say “How I loved her. I’ll now get the chance through Heaven’s door to really show my love for all my family even more. I most likely will, for eons of time, never stop talking and apologizing for things done and not done in this life here as Edie, cause through those pearly gates; I will gladly go through and will be asking
God to forgive all my sins. Most of us know when and where our sins have been along our lives here on Earth. What we did and did not do, we will get the chance to make up for.
Please do not cry for me for I won’t ever be alone and I will never be afraid. I’ll be with my Jim ------------That alone I wouldn’t trade for anything else. With him and my other loved ones, and when I have prepared the way for all of you, my family, and You all can once again join me as I have joined those who have gone before me -------MY HEART WILL BURST, BEING SO FULL OF HAPPINESS AGAIN

Family Secrets by Edie Holdgrafer -- A short story

Birds: Their Heaven is the freedom of flight; and the magnificence of majesty
Far over the Horizons of Everlasting LIFE.

Heather is out in the garden. She loves the beauty of the flowers, of which she has every possible variety; she could work into the space of her small back yard. She especially loves the morning glories, which now covered the whole fence; blooming from mid-morning to mid-afternoon, when they would close up and go to sleep. She loves the different aromas and the privacy she has there, surrounded by high fences, where no neighbors could see her. She was glad of that! Heather had a secret! At three o’clock each day, she would be there in that very special garden, sitting on the bench, to await her daily visit from THEM, the FAMILY, the birds!

Heather is pregnant with her first child and knows it will be a little girl. She is due to give birth any time now and though heavy with her burden, is in pure joy of the prospect of nurturing a young child, like her own sweet Mother had done with her. She feels very blessed that her husband, Bill, is such a wonderful man, and such a very successful man at that. He had worked so hard to get his education and attain his goal to be a psychiatrist, with a thriving practice and thrilled at his ability to help people who are needing to change the happenings and events in their lives, and maybe turning their lives around for the better, with solutions Bill has helped them to find.

Heather had mentioned casually, at times, about her closeness with the birds, telling Bill that she and the birds talked to each other: But he could only smile and never respond back with any questions. She had told him that the birds were her FAMILY from Heaven, but his only response was a broad smile and a kiss on her forehead.

Bill was on his way home, early for a change. Happy that the baby is due and he had been fortunate to have Doctor Green take over his cases for the next two weeks. He has been so anxious for this time to be there for Heather to help her with their little daughter. His little daughter! He could hardly wait to hold this little one in his arms. He has always looked forward to being a father and knows he will be a good one, and that Heather will be the perfect mother and they will be complete. He smiled as he thought about Heather. He knew she was very sensitive and did and said things that he did not quite understand, but in his work, he had seen many strange happenings, that he himself could not explain, along the way of his career and marriage.

Heather had told him how close she had been with her mother. She told him that when her mother was dying, she made heather promise to be in the garden every day that she could, at three o’clock. Bill had never fully understood that, but he did respect that and gave heather all the space to do so and he knew the garden was absolutely beautiful !

He finally arrived home and pulled the car into the driveway. When he entered the house it was so quiet, he glanced at his watch and knew his Heather must be out in the garden. He had not called her to tell her he was coming home early. He didn’t know until thirty minutes ago, himself, and he was so anxious to just head for home. He immediately went upstairs to change into some comfortable clothes. After doing so and putting on a pair of loafers, he went over to the window, which looked down, over the garden area, glancing out to see his beautiful wife, sitting on her small bench. He guessed that she was taking a break from her gardening. He smiled broadly to think how lucky he was. He felt such love for her; his heart just ached. He was about to turn and go downstairs, and suddenly, he realized, Heather was not alone! He looked now, more intentionally, to behold all the birds in the garden; not only on the fence, not only on the lawn, and in the little spruce tree, but also upon the bench where Heather was sitting. As he watched the action of Heather, waving her hands about, obvious happiness, and excitement on her face; Bill froze, heart pounding and afraid his own actions or breathing would disturb something and as he watched, Heather put her hand down on the bench beside one of the birds and to Bill’s astonishment, the little bird hopped upon her hand. Heather then raised it close to her lips and appeared to kiss it on the beak and it responded in like. Then with a gentle wave of her hand, the bird flew off and suddenly all of the birds took flight and were soon out of sight. Heather then stood up and headed for the house. Bill was in awe of his beautiful wife, because he had seen that with his own eyes, and he may not have seen it if he had not unexpectedly come home today; but; he knew he wasn’t going to mention what he had seen to Heather. Not just yet, anyway!

Heather greeted him as he went downstairs, and said, “Oh darling, tomorrow’s the day! Ten o’clock tomorrow morning, we are going to have our little girl!” She kissed Bill on the cheek and added;
“Hope you are as happy as I am.” She started up the stairs, whistling a happy ditty. She never asked Bill why he was home early. Bill guessed, She somehow knew! Now Bill started remembering some of the things Heather had said that He didn’t take seriously and listen to; but, he knew it wouldn’t be that way, ever again. From now on, he was paying strict attention. He was shaking his head and smiling as he went about doing some chores in the garage that he had been wanting to do. He again shook his head and thought to himself, “Tomorrow? At ten a.m.?” he wondered how she would know something like that, but then again; only time would tell!After dinner that night, Bill put soft music on the stereo, and Heather had him help get everything prepared in the nursery and Bill was so at ease just knowing he had two glorious weeks to spend, exclusively, with his family. Sure enough, Heather started her labor pains at 7 a. m. Bill was a bundle of nerves. He was wondering how Heather could have possibly predicted this. He drove her to the hospital and was sent into a waiting room, where he read magazines and paced about until they came for him to come into Heather’s room. When he saw Heather, she was calm and smiling, and she said the pains didn’t bother her much. There, while pains got closer together and more difficult, she and Bill chatted and Heather breezed through and low and behold when the baby came, Bill was speechless, looking at his watch! “ 10 o’clock ” He could hardly believe his own eyes. He looked over at his little daughter. So red, little body flailing about and; he was overjoyed and very proud. Heather did not want to stay in the hospital, but the doctor told her she must stay at least a few hours to make sure everything was just right. It was not long and the doctor gave them last minute instructions on care at home and then he released them to go home. Heather was so anxious and held onto her new little daughter, now named Glory tight in her arms, as Bill took her and Glory in a wheel-chair to the car and home.

THE NURSERY

Everything was so white; so sparkling clean with just the right rainbow colors to be the perfect room for their new little daughter. The big paned window to let the light in; set on the west side of the room that overlooks the garden area and also let extra light in plus the breezes. As they entered the room with Glory, Heather immediately took her over to the changing table. She unwrapped her from the light blanket to change her and let her little body be free of confinement. Heather removed the frilly little pink and white bonnet, little sox and the sweet ruffled dress, leaving her in a light undershirt and a fresh diaper, smelling fresh with powder. Bill had an armload of items that he had carried up from the car and set them down; and immediately stood behind Heather, as she was just finishing her job with Glory. He squeezed Heather around the waist and let out a “yippee chuckle”, and his actions brought out a burst of laughter from the both of them.

Heather surprised herself at feeling so wonderful. She thought she would be achy and groaning with each step but she felt light and alive and now ready to fight the world, if need be, to protect what she now had; her husband and now, her daughter. She turned, and with one hand securing Glory, put her other arm around Bill, pulled his head down to kiss him. As they were locked in their kiss, Bill reached over to place a hand by Heather’s on top of Glory and with the other arms swept Heather up high and as he set her down and they stood side by side looking down at their little one, who had drifted back to sleep.

Glory hadn’t cried yet, so they felt she was very satisfied with her new surroundings and was glad to be born. Heather gently picked her up and laid her onto her crib mattress. Bill had set the mattress as high as possible to make it easier for Heather to attend her and not have to bend over to take care of her. Heather gently and as quietly as possible raised the side of the crib up until it clicked into place With that done, she turned and once again took Bill’s hand into hers and they made their way downstairs to the kitchen.

Heather put the teakettle on the stove and sat down on the barstool. Bill took out his pen and there, for the next half hour or so. They drank tea and made out a list of things they needed to get from the store. They talked about how comfortable the baby seemed to be. A real content baby, it seems, because they still hadn’t heard her cry. Bill slipped the note of things he was going to get at the store into his pocket and told Heather that he was going upstairs to the bathroom first. He would look in on the baby before coming back down to leave. He headed up the stairs and went into the bathroom. In a few minutes, he came out drying his hands on a hand towel. He hung the towel just inside the door and quietly slipped into Glory’s room. He didn’t hear crying, but he did notice a strange noise like rustling of paper, and as he stepped up beside the crib, he looked down upon a very upset little baby. There, was Glory, thrashing her little body about, her hands jerking, face red and though no sound came from her, she was obviously crying. He picked her up to settle her down and rocked her in his arms as he walked out of the bedroom and over to the top of the staircase, where he called down to Heather; “Come up here, honey, something is wrong with the baby!”By the time Heather climbed the stairs and entered the nursery, Bill had the baby all calmed down and laying quietly in his arms. Heather looked at Bill’s worried expression; and then at Glory, lying quietly in Bill’s arms. She took Glory from Bill, sat down in her rocking chair and sat momentarily cooing at the baby. Not seeing anything wrong and not fully realizing Bill’s concern, smiled and said, “She’s is just fine, honey, probably just hungry and needs changing.” She then got up out of her chair and took Glory over to the changing table and having changed and powdered her, says again to Bill; “See honey, she is just fine!” Bill stood there with that anxious look and said “But she was crying, but making no sound!”

Heather picked up Glory and took her back to the rocking chair and got prepared to nurse her. After Glory started her feeding, Heather looked up, smiled a Bill, and once more assured him that Glory was fine. “Relax; Dear!” she said and with that, Bill smiled broadly and said, “O.K. I’m off to the store!” He waved and left the room. She heard him whistling, his footsteps down the stairs and the front door shut, and then all was quiet. Heather smiled, as she glanced up at the rainbow colored cat clock on the wall. Almost three o’clock! Almost time for the FAMILY visit in the garden, and the welcoming party for Glory! About three thirty, Bill came in through the kitchen door, arms loaded down. He set the bags down and finding the one with baby essentials: diapers, pacifier, comb and brush set, and things he picked up just in case they were needed. He didn’t know; what the baby shower had brought but he knows he got everything on the list and then some! What’s a few other items? Rattles; he knew it would be awhile before the baby would play with them, and the cute little radio with cartoon characters on it, oh well, he just couldn’t resist. He sorted through all the bags to take what would go to the nursery and he headed up the stairs to get them all up there, for Heather to sort through.

As he entered the nursery and saw the room empty, he glanced at his watch, set the sacks down and went over to the window to look down into the garden area. Yes, they were there! He knew they would be! He smiled, and wondered what the FAMILY thought about Glory. He imagined what THEY were saying. ”Oh, what a sweetheart! Oh, how darling! What a little dear!” As he was thinking this, his smile almost became a burst of laughter as he saw the actions of the birds below. Their wings fluttering, and their little bodies; shaking with excitement! He was full of pride and knew he was going to say something to Heather about all this, soon. He was really getting interested and he knew he sure would like to be a part of it: If that would be possible!

He once again ran down the staircase and into the kitchen. Putting all the groceries away he decided to start and early dinner. He loves to cook, prides himself on being so self sufficient and so lucky in this life to have such a wonderful family. He was glad Doctor Green had given him the chance to be home and bond with his little daughter. He sure didn’t want Heather to do too much just yet and he loved doing for her and now for his new little one. He knows He isn’t experienced at baby care and he isn’t too confidant on how he will handle diaper changes, but he knew Heather would do most of that chore, he hoped.

He was just finishing with the preparation of salad; when Heather came into the house with the baby. She sat down at the table and chatted on and on while Bill breezed about the kitchen, getting the potatoes cleaned and wrapped in foil and put in the oven to bake and the fish all lined out to broil. They both loved fish. A thought hit him. “Birds love fish too !” He smiled to himself and went on with his preparing dinner.

Heather decided to nurse and put Glory to bed so she and Bill could relax and enjoy their evening together. She felt a little tired, but just being with Bill was her relaxation. She took Glory upstairs.

As she finished burping Glory, she though the little one had done quite well and had gotten enough to eat, for she was sound asleep and even flicking her plump little cheeks got no response, so she laid her down on her side and supported her back with a long soft pillow and covering her lightly. The baby was quiet, so Heather went into the bathroom to freshen up. A short while later she came downstairs. She could smell the wonderful aroma of the dinner Bill had prepared and she and Bill ate, did dishes together and enjoyed the rest of the evening together; so much, keeping the radio low enough as to hear the baby, if she cried.

Later, as they went upstairs to go to bed, they both stepped quietly into the nursery to look in at Glory. As they approached the crib, looking down at the baby, they both stood there in utter shock! There, before them, was Glory, though no sound came from her, was flailing about; and the rustling of the covers, as she kicked and struggled. She had been crying for some time, it seemed, for she was red faced and trembling.

Heather looked at Bill in shocked belief and hurriedly picked her up. Bill told Heather to start talking to Glory in a quiet voice and she did that and almost immediately, Glory settled down. Heather said: “Oh, Bill, I’m so sorry I didn’t pay any attention to you, earlier! Something is definitely going on here. What do you think could be wrong with her?” After nursing Glory and getting her to sleeping soundly, Bill had Heather lay her down on the bath table and keep her there while he went to get his medical bag. After he checked the baby, he told Heather he couldn’t find anything wrong, but he would have his friend, Doctor Jansen check her out and run some tests at the hospital tomorrow.

They put Glory in between them on their bed, for the night. Neither of them expected to sleep very soundly but they knew that if the baby needed them during the night, they would know it. Maybe they would know more tomorrow.

Many tests, many exams found absolutely nothing wrong with Glory. She had nothing wrong with her vocal cords that could be seen, to account for the silence. Doctor Jansen said he didn’t think she was deaf, but only time would tell. Bill had already prepared himself for the fact that maybe Glory was deaf. Heather had kept insisting that she did not think Glory was deaf, because she responds to noise, so Bill made up his mind that only tests would show what was wrong and in the meanwhile, they would get one of those alarms for the crib to wake them. They moved the crib and changing table and things they would need for Glory into their bedroom.

That evening after dinner and Glory was settled down in her crib and sleeping peacefully, kitchen had been cleaned up , Bill turned the radio onto a soft music station and read the newspaper until Heather had finished her chores and stretched out in her recliner. He had already decided that he just had to ask more questions of Heather to find out more. He felt bad for not having been more open and responding openly all the times Heather had made those strange comments he had brushed aside with humor and now felt he was definitely sorry for having had such a closed mind. Now he was utterly like a stranger in a strange town having to ask questions he did not know even how to phrase or exactly what to ask.
Just as he was about to ask a question, Heather starting talking like she had read his mind: “you know dear, we have all lived before, many times in different forms and unless you are open to believing that, I really do not think we should have this discussion.” Before he could respond, she continued on; “my FAMILY said they saw you watching and that THEY feel you are ready to hear what we discuss.” Bill responded, with excitement, “I am ready, I want to be a part of it too! I have always felt that, please, go on.” Heather smiled and said “Thank goodness!” she smiled openly, “I wish you would have said something sooner.” They hugged and then Heather continued on: “We are chosen ones for our Glory’s soul. Chosen to help her. My FAMILY told me something happened to her in another life that stopped her progress into other human forms and Glory's spirit decided to try again and picked us to help her."
Bill was overwhelmed and had to think about this a little, so he went into the kitchen to get them each a cold drink and then had a thirst to hear more from Heather, and found himself anxious to get on with their conversation. Settling down once again and comfortable, he smiled at Heather and asked her to continue on. Heather continued on; “My FAMILY says hypnosis is the only way to explore into Glory’s other lives.” Bill responded “but that means that Glory would have to be able to talk, and if she makes no sound crying, how do THEY say that would be possible?”

“But, she will when she is taken back past this present life!” Heather responded. Bill had worked with hypnosis but had never tried to take his patients back to actual babyhood or even to their birth, let alone farther back than their own lives. He had always had an open mind, but now to pursue doing this really made him excited over all the possibilities this might bring. He asked Heather if he could be part of the meetings in the garden, and she said that she would ask THEM tomorrow afternoon.

Bill had a restless night trying to sleep. His mind was going a mile a minute with so many questions, so many new ideas flashing to and fro in his mind, but an excitement he’d never felt before. How utterly fantastic! He could hardly wait to hear more about what the FAMILY may have to say. What did the FAMILY mean when THEY said “Glory’s soul stopped progression into human forms?”

“HUMAN FORMS?” what did that mean? He smiled; knowing he was about to re-evaluate his education and be re-educated in a completely out of this world lesson, and He thought there was not much he hadn’t learned. Now: This was the beginning of a whole new ball game!
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For the next few days, Heather was checking about every ten minutes on Glory and all wasn’t as bad as she had feared. Glory was a very content baby, ate good portions of milk that stayed with her at least four hours, before she was hungry again. Everything fit into a routine and Heather and Bill relaxed and really enjoyed their time together. Heather had no problem getting back to doing for her family and had such a zest; she could not find enough to do at times. Every afternoon she took Glory out in the garden and Glory looked around and stayed awake and was happy and interested in all she could see. Just as Bill had speculated, the birds were saying; “look how alert she is! Oh such a smart little cutie. Oh how sweet!” THEY fluttered their wings, flying from limb to limb in the spruce tree, dropping to the ground, up and down to the fence, all excited and happy! It was like they were playing with glory to keep her attention, and it seemed to work, for her eyes were moving from place to place, obviously following their antics.

Bill was there in the yard too, but he could not hear anything and he was a little disappointed, but yet he knew and understood because he was not psychic like Heather. He was proud that the FAMILY had allowed him to be there and observe. Bill knew Heather would be the go-between on anything happening and any conversations that were pertinent for him to be included in. He was also sad that he had not been more opened to Heather’s remarks in the past, so many times that strange events surrounded her and to think he had taken all in jest and scoffed it all off. But now, he was learning many things from Heather and he was definitely taking them seriously now. He was so eager for their evening together and was just beginning to ask some good questions. At the moment he was so enjoying watching the interactions of Glory and the FAMILY.

Last night, Bill had asked Heather to describe what is going on with the FAMILY: Why THEY are here, why her and Glory, and no one else, where does he fit in? How does she talk with them? What is their purpose? Heather responded: Bill, THEY are here to help Glory’s soul be free to be where it is supposed to be ------ with THEM. Glory’s soul was lost for many eons of time and THEY couldn’t find it. Bill was speechless, shaking his head, waiting in awe, for Heather to continue. THEY kept searching different realms and it took so long for THEM to find her again, in between transitions into other lives. This absolutely flooded bill with confusion and he said: “wait Heather! Slow down! We will have to go over some of this information you are giving me again, you have lost me, explain more to me, dear! You are really confusing me! Heather paused, thinking to herself how to word this for Bill when a thought hit her to get some books from the library and let Bill read them, for she knew of several books that helped her too, after THEY; the birds, first came to her. Then she suddenly remembered, she had some of the books and had put them in a box and stored them in a trunk. She asked Bill to help her get the small trunk from the basement. It took some time looking about and moving boxes, but they found it and Bill carried it upstairs to the kitchen and set it down on a chair for Heather to get into it easier. They sat and sorted and talked of other events as Heather pulled out pictures, letters, until she found what she was looking for. She handed them to Bill to read and then she wanted to have him observe the happenings in the garden more in depth. Heather had told Bill about the communicating telepathically with THEM the birds. She also had explained that Glory would be having that same ability, for that was the real purpose of it all. So, there was Bill, to observe the FAMILY in the garden. He was very excited just thinking about it all.

Heather told Bill to give the FAMILY a little time to make their decision and just look down from the window for the next few days.

He was very busy reading, going to the library and finding more and different kinds of books to give him a much broader understanding of even what he was feeling and observing with his daughter, the sights he had already seen of the birds excitement in the garden and he was ready for more answers to his questions and really understand it all. He knew one thing on his own.
THEY were guardian angels for his little daughter.

For the next few days, Bill was so busy, he could not shut his brain off. He was so excited and had, between reading many opinions, and books, and knowing what he had learned in his profession as a hypnotist. He felt proud that maybe that had a lot to do with he and Heather being chosen for this wonder, whatever it was. He was one willing man to find out all he could about the human brain, life after death, the different realms of existence, religion, evolution, whatever he could learn or think of the possibilities of unknown realities. He knew he was ready and willing and able. He had been watching from the upstairs window, sitting upon the cedar chest and relaxing, smiling, laughing, at all he observed below. He and Heather had played with Glory, seen her obviously happy and kicking and smiling, but not a sound came from her. They knew she could hear because she responded by turning her head to noises made around the room. So all in all, they all were relaxing and really enjoying it all. Bill was so proud of his sweet family and knew he would do everything possible and be open to anything to take proper care of his two sweethearts.

The next evening after dinner, Bill and Heather played with Glory. She was one happy, bright little baby and very alert to all motion surrounding her. She was kicking and smiling and looking at all but still,never a sound, came from her. Though she startled at noise, she was even getting used to certain ones and absorbing everything that came in her view. Bill felt really pleased that he had a definite mission to do and he had really expanded his opening; learning of all the materials he had been reading. The possibilities gave him a powerful fulfilling feeling that he had never before experienced. He was in awe.

Of course he knew none of his fellow doctors would be open to what he was learning, and he was still in the learning stages so of course he would never breathe a word. He was glad the garden was all privately fenced and he was party to view what was happening. He knew he was going to be learning more every day from Heather and he looked forward to their conversations in the evenings, and it showed on Heather’s happy face too. Evenings were turning out to be wonderful, just the two of them sharing such a family secret.

After dinner was over and Glory settled and asleep in the bedroom, Bill and Heather made themselves comfortable and Heather smiled, ready for any questions Bill had for her and was so happy that she now had his full attention. It was so important that he be completely open; and ready to be brought into the solving of this problem in which he was to be such a part of from the beginning. One of the first questions from Bill was; “what were THEY, saying about Glory?” Heather told him: “THEY, were making comments like, oh how sweet, look how alert she is, how adorable, and things like that.” Bill burst out in laughter, saying; “I knew it! I knew it!” then stop laughing and said; “I wonder how I knew it?” Heather then joined him and they laughed together. Then, the questions started and Heather was ready with a big smile on her face, like whew, it is about time and she was ready to try to explain everything right to him.
Bill had been reading different books but he still did not understand what was going on here, so he knew he had a lot to learn yet and he knew Heather was definitely in the knowing something he had been too professional at levels from college, but not this, this unbelievable event, that was going on in his own house now. Bill asked; “Is Glory’s muteness why THEY are here?” Heather answered, “no dear, her not being able to talk was not foreseen, but because of it, THEY know something happened to her soul and she did not want to live in human form; and THEY finally convinced her to do so.” Bill thought to himself, there she goes again with that human form thing! He asked her to explain this, and especially this human form thing. What other forms are there?

Heather smiled and start explaining her special way; “Bill dear, think out it! Life forms; anything that has life! Animals, fish, plant life, sear life, insects, etc. Maybe we live a lifetime in each of these forms, maybe several lifetimes in the same form.” Bill was absorbing this idea with an open mind but it was overwhelming to think about and he suddenly asked Heather; “Do you mean if we all live over and over in different life forms, that one time or another, out of all these forms, we may have even been a tree? Do THEY think that is why they could not find her?” Heather smiled, and gave Bill a big hug and a kiss and said, “that is what we want you to find out to help our Glory. According to the FAMILY, all the loved ones, or soul mates, tend to pick the same form to be together. But now, for many, many years THEY did not know where Glory had gone. She just was not to be found!” That is why you and I are in this together, and we can trust THEM to find a way to search her very soul. Bill thanked Heather for trusting him and asked her to thank THEM for him.

For the next few days, Bill spent time in the library, researching psychic phenomena, unusual events, ghosts and other unexplainable, unproven events, finding it all extremely interesting. He would have scoffed at all a short time ago, but now he was open to anything he could find. Bill had brought home several books to study also, and he definitely was open to anything he could find. Bill thought to himself;” the horizons on all of this was unending and so very fascinating, just to think it all was happening in front of his eyes. He wondered if any of his fellow Doctors would be open to any of this if it works out.

Everything at home was going along smoothly, so they moved Glory back into the nursery where Bill could study in bed and not disturb her or Heather. Bill had put several little bells hanging from strings on the crib, so that any activity from Glory would make them tinkle and alert them, and it relaxed them and even Glory seemed more content and had started sleeping all night long now. Heather was working out a schedule and all was going along very smoothly. Bill’s interest in all she had to say, made her feel better than she had ever felt before, now that they had so much to discuss every night, and they were talking late each night and everything they talked about, brought out something else to talk about. They were both striving to learn more. Bill was even talking of the possibility of carrying his patients back to other lives, under hypnosis. He was also discussing filming the sessions for his records and worked on paperwork to have his patients sign if they agreed to it. He wanted to film all his hypnosis from now on and if anything came to success, he would bring some other doctors in on it. He was due to go back to his office and patients soon and he was getting anxious about what possibilities of success to help his patients, he might suddenly have.

Heather smiled as she thought over all that had been happening this last few weeks. Bill’s delight; in seeing Glory’s reactions with the FAMILY, in the garden, and his obvious pride in being part of it. His laughter, when she described what remarks THEY were saying about Glory, like “look how alert she is, such a little cutie!” and Bill, saying, he just knew it! He knew? She didn’t quite understand that, but she ended up laughing along with him. She only knew she was sure enjoying everything right now and was sure taking advantage of being with him so close because his vacation time was about over and he had to get back to helping his patients again. She was happy for him, now having so much faith in a different direction now; that made him glow with excitement.

The following Monday morning, Bill went back to his practice. He arranged to set up his office with a video camera on the wall and then he would be prepared from now on in a different manner. He knew his Doctor friends and associates had different manners of helping their patients and some may even have video cameras, but until now, Bill had never deemed it important. He could hardly wait to see if this new direction of care that he was going to take, was going to dramatically help his patients actually solve their problems.

As the months flew by , he never ran into a difficult enough case to warrant him taking his patients very far back with hypnosis, and at home he saw the contentment of Heather with being a mother and everything was so very pleasant for his little family. She was so very busy, but so very happy. She knew she was destined to be a mother and loved every minute of every day. Everywhere she went; she took Glory! Glory seemed interested in everything she saw and was learning sign language on a daily basis, as was daddy after work and on weekends. After a lot of repetition, it didn’t take long for Glory’s vocabulary to increase rapidly. It was obviously puzzling to her to learn she was talking with her hands, and her excitement was overwhelming at times, for she could hear mama and noise of cars and all the things around her and she tried so to form words and when nothing would come out, seemed to get used to it as a normal thing and was such a happy child. She learned the hand movements for mama, daddy. Bird, milk, food and each new thing she saw left her eager to get the response from mama or daddy, to teach her more. Glory’s normal ability to hear made it so much easier to teach her and for her to learn.

The months flew by, finding Glory an exceptionally bright child. The more she learned, the more she wanted to learn. She was so happy she could hear music, noises and talking from all, but THEM. She knew she heard THEM with her head, but mama had always told her she was special, and only she and mama could talk to THEM in this way and daddy or anyone else; could not. She had, at times tried to talk to mama and daddy, with her mind, and with no response, became frustrated, but time cures all and everything just fell into perfect order for her. Her special joy; was the meetings in the garden. She even got into a habit of taking a nap after lunch and awakening just in time for the three o’clock meeting in the garden.

Heather was so happy. She had her daughter, her family, the BIRDS, and was so glad her Bill was a part of it all, she was so proud of Glory’s progress in learning. Conversations seemed so natural; and Glory was excited about her friends who sometimes teased her about being different and it seemed that if there were more than one or two at a time, that the teasing would be worse. She was worried how this would be when she started into school. She was so glad that mama was there to speak for her to her friends when something needed to be said that her friends did not understand. Heather was teaching her to read and Glory was ahead of her years and proved to be very smart. Daddy took her to the library with him and she had learned to read different

things well beyond her age expectancy. Her friends teased her also about the fact she could read things and they couldn’t even though they were the same age as her, but daddy had told her she was very intelligent and she could compete with 11 year olds.

The only time she missed being there in the garden was the times that mama and daddy would take her places like the zoo or out of town. She especially loved the times when they all went to the beach. She had such a tremendous feeling of belonging when she was there. She loved to see the seagulls fly and dive into the ocean. She treasured the sea shells she collected. Every time she looked at them, it would remind her of that wonderful feeling that she had, when she found them on the beach. Daddy took her as often as he could, and he knew how she loved it. He’d sit on the sand and be entertained just watching her. Seems that would be dominant in their talks for a weeks afterwards. She would thank him over and over again.
Whenever Glory was upset, for any reason whatever, she would run upstairs and hold her shells and close her eyes and picture the sea shore and the seagulls and immediately would feel better. Glory even dreamed at night about being one of the seagulls; circling around. Oh, what a great feeling! She even put a few of the shells under her pillow, hoping to dream that same dream, over and over again.

A few years went by and Bill went on as normal, but one Monday morning, John Hayes was to be his first patient. He had been a patient for several months now and so far Bill had not been able to see any progress in solving John’s terrible depression and thoughts of committing suicide. John’s salvation so far, was that he was a professional business man and his common sense kept him going.; but he was sensible enough to seek help in trusting Bill to help him. When John arrived, Bill explained what he was going to try and John answered that he trusted Bill completely and was willing to try anything John could come up with to help him overcome the terrible depression, because he had another bad spell during the night, last night. Bill explained that this was an experiment and He wanted to film it if it was alright, with him. John said that He was willing to try anything. Bill explained to him “I am going to try to take you back to your birth and beyond into another life form; if it is possible to do so. I am going to experiment to take you as far as I can. If indeed it is possible to do so. I will monitor you constantly. It is going to be on film, so you may view it for yourself upon your awaking.” With John’s approval, once again, Bill started the video-camera; and began having John review his problem completely in front of the camera, Bill began his hypnosis. John was an easy subject and immediately went into trance. Bill had a standard command, special for John. After taking him back to when He was a very young child, Bill suddenly told John; “John, I want you to go back to a life you led before, different from your present existence to one where suicide was a prominent idea, and meant something both important and frightening to you.” After a short pause, John sat straight up in his chair and seemed very distressed! Bill immediately soothed him by saying, “It is alright, John, look at the scene as an observer!” After another long pause, John seemed to relax and started describing his surroundings. He said; “ I am helping them commit suicide”! After another long pause, Bill urged him, “Who are you helping commit suicide?” and after another pause, “Who are you now?” Bill watched him, and after a short time, John began, “I am Garnel. I am their priest! Our colony is in severe danger because of invading armies of our enemies outside. They will kill us, but we all know the invaders and know they are bad in soul and would torture all of us before killing us and kill us, they will, so I am overseeing my people to commit suicide. He would also do the same to himself after everyone else had successfully died. He had gathered berries and leaves that in combination would put you to sleep first and the second poison would work silently but deadly. He had gathered the berries and leaves a few days ago, and his subjects now had already chewed the berries and spit the chewing juices into the children or old people who couldn’t help themselves. Then they did the same thing with the leaves. After completion on the young and very old and helpless, they did the same for themselves. After observing all of the people down and near death, Garnel was already to begin his own demise, when the enemy soldiers broke down the door and stopped him, tying him and dragging him and torturing him for almost a week, before they put him out of his misery. During all those days of torture, Garnel prayed to be released from this terrible existence. John lay groaning and praying as Bill told him “release that life, and return to the present! You are to be John Hayes again!” John immediately relaxed and Bill brought him slowly back through the years as John Hayes to his age and present day life. He also instructed John to remember all that he has recalled today and fit it into the life and problems as John Hayes. After the final countdown bringing him out of his trance 5 4 3 2 1 John opened his eyes and was smiling as he awoke from his trance. He had tears in his eyes. He thanked Bill over and over again as he shook his head at the flood of thoughts that he was now overwhelmed with. Bill sat shocked at it all, that this came out the way it did. Bill called his secretary to bring them in some coffee and sandwiches, and as they relaxed and ate their lunch; he asked John how he felt about all that had happened. John asked if they could see the video of it and as Bill set up the screen and put on the machine, Bill sat watching Johns’ anxiety and facial expressions. Bill sure felt excited about it all.. It was obvious that this was a perfect explanation for Johns’ problem today. In another life He was responsible for many deaths and reasoned, that He was supposed to commit suicide after talking so many others into doing so, and he failed, that as John Hayes, he felt guilty for Garnel’s failure, even though it was not Garnel’s fault.
After the tape had finished playing, Bill and John sat quietly and Bill wanted the words to come from John on his own impression of what this all meant. “Can you see any connection that applies to both lives for you; John ?” asked Bill. “I really feel over my trouble already. As this other person I talked a lot of people into committing suicide and when I was captured and did not get to do what I had talked all my loved ones into doing, that guilt died with me. In my life now I have always had this feeling but really did not understand why, for my life was not that bad. I feel so much better now, thanks to you. I think i am going to be just fine on this now. In fact, I really feel great!” John Hayes was a different person leaving Bill’s office that day and Bill felt great too!

Bill had a great day! Yes, a really great day! He had a smile on his face and pride He couldn’t hide and He found people doing double takes of him as He locked up his office, went to the garage to head home. He had called home and told Heather of his sudden progress from his search with John Hayes. He and she were both excited about I;, and continued their discussion with relish and wonder as to what all could be done with this method. Yes! This was the beginning of a whole new ball game!
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Heather and Bill had discussed what they were going to try to do with Glory and they talked to Glory about it and her hands told them she was excited and knew her daddy was going to help her be able to talk like mama and daddy did and started asking when and where and how and Bill took her upon his lap and calmed her down and answered her questions and calmed her down telling her he would wait for the most convenient time where it was convenient for THEM and others to be involved with helping. Asking the FAMILY to give their thoughts on it. Glory understood and hugged daddy and settled down to go play again. Heather did so the next day and told Bill that THEY thought He ought to start real soon because Glory would be going to school and she would be subject to other children’s teasing. So it was set up to begin during Bill’s vacation. That gave him two weeks and He hoped that they all could learn something in that short space of time. Bill had never uttered a word about the situation at home to any of his fellow doctors and decided upon having lunch with Thomas Ashe, a retired doctor that had been such a great help to Bill all these years. He was a great teacher and Bill felt he was more intelligent than most professors. Bill had not seen him in over a year now, so he got on the phone and dialed Tom’s number. Tom was very surprised, and very pleased to hear from Bill, and He was extremely proud that Bill wanted his opinion on something. Bill told him he would pick him up at noon on Wednesday, and they would have lunch together. Heather overheard Bill’s conversation and told Bill he should invite him to the house for Sunday dinner with them. Bill then told Tom; it would be much better for Sunday, and asked if that would be convenient for him and Tom replied; “Of course, that would be great! You don’t have to pick me up though; I have my own car and can drive over to your house!”
So; all was arranged for around one o’clock. When Bill hung up, he smiled to himself and thought, “I wonder how Tom will assess the situation, or be as dumb-founded as I was at first.” Remembering about those days when Heather and he had talked first talked about her FAMILY, about Glory, and remembered first seeing Heather that day he came home unexpectedly early, and seeing out the window that wonder. Once again he smiled and thought about his success with John Hayes and having said just the right words to solve his problems quickly. He sure hoped He could find just the right phrase of words to take glory back to find and correct her problems and find the ability to talk. When He once again shook his head again, thinking as to how he was going to explain it all to Tom. He also hoped that the next few days would go by fast, so he could finally have someone like Tom, to share it all with.

He discussed with Heather the possibility of taking Tom upstairs, and letting him watch the FAMILY with him, from the window. He thought that may help explaining the whole story to Tom. He just thought it would make the story more clear to Tom and Heather fully agreed. Any insight Tom could offer to give Bill more confidence was very important. She knew Tom and had remembered having met him and his wife at different seminars, when Tom’s wife was still alive. She liked them both very much and she knew what an influence Tom had been to Bill in helping Bill in his career. The next few days passed and Sunday was suddenly there. Time seemed to fly by and now Thomas Ashe was with them and seemed very comfortable in their company and they in his. Tom seemed in very good health and said he took daily walks and ate good but his spirit was a little down since his retirement. He missed his wife and his children lived so far away that he did not get to see them very often. He thanked them for this very welcome invitation. After a very delicious dinner, they settled comfortably and Bill and Heather talked and brought him up to date with lots of news that confounded Tom. He responded well when Bill told him of his success with John Hayes and the outcome of hypnosis back into a former life. Tom was astonished and his curiosity opened up quite a vivid conversation, and as they talked the time flew by and soon Heather reminded Bill that it was time for the FAMILY meeting in the garden. All was explained to Tom what went on in the garden and Tom was anxious to see for himself, so as Heather and Glory went out to the garden, Bill took Tom upstairs and they both sat on the cedar chest so they could get a perfect view of the garden and that way they could both be comfortable, and each could converse as needed. Bill smiled as he watched the responses of Tom and he explained as the happenings occurred. Tom watched and different sounds came as his astonishment grew in seeing the happenings below. Bill explained every thing that was happening. He was explaining that Heather and Glory were talking with the birds in thought, and Tom asked questions like “Is Glory able to converse with THEM this way too?” Bill told him to “just watch closely, and; he could explain anything he needed answers to.” Tom was convinced that something was indeed going on below. Just watching Glory’s actions with the birds, was interesting. It was then that Bill asked Tom if he would be a part of solving Glory’s problem and Tom said he would love being a part of something so interesting as this.

Bill briefly told Tom about John Hayes, explaining that he had filmed it and how successful it had been for John to understand fully with full memory of the session.

The following Wednesday, Bill had a new patient come to see him. As he interviewed her he realized there is no absolute cure for her problem. She suffers from anorexia bulemia. That is a strange illness that drives the sufferers to eat vast amounts of food only to regurgitate it back up with their own help or to stop eating completely. If they don’t get control of it they lose weight until they eventually have all their body organs shut down and they die. There are groups of counseling but only about one in ten are helped and they are always in danger of thinking they are too fat and going back to the regurgitating again. He was curious as to whether taking her far back might produce good results. He talked to her for some time explaining what he would like to try and asking what help she has sought to this point, and both finally agreed to give Bill’s treatment a try. She was desperate, as she only weighed 82 pounds. He made an appointment for the following Monday and got her permission to videotape the procedure, and also permission to have another Doctor observe them and help. She agreed and shook Bill’s hand with a smile on her face that showed she had lots of hope that he may be able to help her.

Bill had no more patients to see scheduled for the afternoon, so he went home early. The house was quiet, so he knew Heather was either out in the garden or she and Glory had walked somewhere. Heather loved their walks and they usually walked to the park a few blocks away, or maybe to the store. He changed his clothes and settled down with a cold drink and opened a book. He still went to the library every two weeks, checking out books and now with the prospect of his new problem he wanted to see if he may find something interesting to help. He set aside the book after a short while and sat with his nice cold drink and got out his notebook and started reviewing the information he had. Her name was Mary Lawrence, 34 years old, single, worked as a secretary, never weighed more than 120 pounds and though people would tell her how nice she looked, she told Bill, she just knew she looked fat, because she looked in the mirror a lot and always saw herself as fat. She also said she was always getting on the scale and even though it would be less certain times than she was used to, she thought she looked even fatter. Before she ate dinner, she would weigh herself and then again after she ate and if there was any difference, she would go to the bathroom and put her finger down her throat and make herself vomit, and then go back and weigh herself again until she was satisfied for that particular day. The more weight she would lose, the more she would have the present weight stay that way even though it came down under 100, she still saw herself as fat in the mirror. Bill asked her what she thought would be the perfect weight for her; 110, 100, 90, 80, 70? And she said on her that it was all too much. Bill knew he had to get to the bottom explanation of all this and find out why she felt this way and do it fast. Bill called Thomas Ashe and asked him if he would be available to be a part of this and Tom thanked him and made arrangements to be there Monday early when Bill opened his office to help him set up the equipment , and bring him up to date on what the patient needed. Bill hung up the phone and decided he would surprise his girls and cook dinner, so he went out into the kitchen and started getting prepared to fix them all a nice dinner, eat early, and enjoy each other’s company.

On Saturday after an early lunch, all three of them sat quietly talking of different things that had happened during the week and as they sat there, they made out a list of things needed from the store. Bill said he would cook tonight. How about barbequed steaks? They all agreed that sounded great and in a little while Bill headed out the door to the store, and told them to enjoy their visit in the garden and with that remark opened the door and was gone. Heather and Glory busied themselves each doing their own things. When Bill came in about an hour later, the house was quiet, and he looked at his watch, then knowing that Heather and Glory were out in the garden. He unloaded the groceries and put them in their proper places and was about to sit down to read when he heard a soft voice. Voice? No, not exactly, but it was something that caught his attention. Then, there it was again, like someone calling his name, but he headed for the patio door to see if someone in the garden was calling him. Like a whisper it was, calling his name Bill ------- Bill Opening the door it became stronger and stronger as he was taken all the way to where Heather and Glory sat. They were quiet, watching Bill’s expressions, and the puzzled look on his face. And suddenly the words hit him again more clearly as they continued on.


Bill, we want to welcome you here with us. Bill was really surprised and puzzled looking at Heather and Glory and asking if they had called him. Heather said “Bill, sit down; the FAMILY wants to talk to you now. The birds called you. Come and sit down.” He slowly made his was to the bench and inched himself upon the bench between them. Heather gently put her arm around him and said THEY want to include you now. It is time. THEY think you are ready. Talk to them with thought. Just think the questions and answers. It will only take a short time and you will understand it. They have already heard your confusion so just relax now and listen to them, ok honey? Bill smiled and looked out to see all the birds. He thought, “I am very honored and nervous and I want to thank you.” Immediately he picked up the thought; “that is alright to be nervous.” That coming from a bird, who was obviously the one conversing with him as it had jumped down onto the garden path right in front of them, facing them. It was moving it’s tail back and forth, as the thoughts hit him. He looked at it and thought, “Are you the one talking to me?” and it answered: “Yes, Bill. Please relax and don’t be nervous, We sure don’t want you upset in any way!” the bird moved closer and then said, “Are you ok, now?” and Bill thought “I am honored at” but the bird interrupted saying “You are the chosen one, so we are honored also.”

For the next hour Bill and the FAMILY talked. Bill asking questions and the Birds explaining in detail. THEY told Bill about the REALMS OF HEAVEN and THE TRAIL ZONE and many other interesting things and told Bill that he would now dream in his sleep for the next few nights as they would be bringing him insight, to pay attention to his dreams, to keep a pen and paper to write on if necessary so as to absorb all the new information that would come to him. Suddenly – the visit was over and all the birds suddenly took flight. Bill still found cooking fun, and he prepared dinner and they all sat around and conversed. Bill looked over at Glory and Glory gave him, a thumbs up; with a huge smile on her face.

They had dinner and talked, and really enjoyed the evening together and for the first time he was so happy for Glory to have such a wonderful path in the past and in the future. He knew it was getting more interesting as the days went by.



THE QUEST FROM THE TRAIL ZONE

Through the trail zone, they came. It was time! That time once again! They looked forward to it every day. Soon their mission would be through and they could once again go HOME. HOME, that realm of peace, they have been a long time on this mission, and hoping for a solution soon. Their mission was GLORY.

Glory’s spirit in the afterlife was convinced to become Glory to answer where her spirit had been for so long a time, for none of her fellow spirits could find her for many life times, and when they had finally found her; her spirit was incomplete. Something had kept her spirit from joining the family and returning HOME.

Through the trail zone: That was the only explanation they could tell to make understood what their purpose was. “The trail zone was a different dimension, realm, divide.” That trail zone was their transportation from one realm, or dimension to another. They went into the lower realm known as the first realm. First was known for purpose and further learning. If a spirit in that beginning realm, there was much to do and much to learn. “Many life forms to be led or lived to learn all that they needed to be able to go to the second realm.”

The second realm was where they, the birds were from. They only left that realm they called home because of Glory’s spirit being lost to them. They want her spirit to be able to find them at home in the second realm when this life as Glory is ended.

They had all had transitions of lives together over and over in different life forms but had missed her in transitions for many times now. Where had her spirit gone; to? They looked everywhere for her and never could find her. The very last time they were all together to share existence was when Glory’s spirit was in human form as Jenna Damien. That was in the l600’s they lost her then and looked as they kept returning to the lower realm, in spirit form, to search. All of a sudden they found her spirit by the ocean. Her spirit was unhappy and didn’t remember much of why she felt undeserving of going through the trail to meet with the FAMILY. They took her spirit through the trail zone for a long rest and finally set up this life form as Glory. She was doing so well as Glory and they were anxious to get her complete spirit once more, so when the time comes she will come home.

Heather, when in spirit form had done such a good job and setting the willingness to prepare for helping and was included to be able to communicate with them as birds, in the garden, and would be there for helping Glory, though she did not know of the problems of speech, until it happened and her Bill would be such a wonderful help to be the chosen one to help Glory find her spirit whole once again. Not all of Heather’s spirit world would she remember but always thought she was just psychic. The conversations: with the birds in the garden was something Heather accepted from the beginning just like she did have full memory of spirit. Now she knew in her talks with THEM that someday, upon her death, “she, will, know and remember everything once again!”

Monday morning Bill arrived at his office early to set up the equipment needed for recording. He was reading over Mary Lawrence’s chart from other doctor’s that had tried to help her. He decided to induce her hypnotic state with a drug. She had responded to penathol in the past favorably so he was going to try that with her willingness. She had gone through hypnosis in the past with other doctors, but no success in solving her problem was found. He studied the commands for hypnotic treatments in the past and he knew he would take all the time that was needed for an effective solution here. Tom showed up early enough for Bill to bring him up to date and discuss the procedure he was going to do, and told him how proud he was to bring him in on this. He showed Tom the video from John Hayes and after the video was finished, they discussed the possibilities of the wonders this could do in the future.

When Mary Lawrence arrived, both he and Tom discussed her problem and what they were going to try this first visit. With the usual countdown Mary responded well and was given an injection after she was relaxed because she had asked them to do it that way because she had a fear of needles. Bill took Mary back to age 10, she talked of school and in a few minutes, back to 2, where she giggled like she was having fun with toys, and then Bill took her all the way back to birth, and then said, “Mary, I want you to go back into a different life in which you were a big eater, loving food.” Mary was completely quiet and moving her body around to seemingly get in a more comfortable position, and after about 3 minutes, and suddenly Mary started talking in a man’s voice. Bill asked, “Who are you?” After a brief pause, the voice answered; “I am Johannes Borge.” Bill said: “Johannes; please tell us what your life is like and of your surroundings.” Johannes elaborated: “I am brother to the Czar. We indulge in food eating orgies, eating; vomiting it up; eating most of the time. It is a sign of the rich and rulers. We are fat but not too fat, or else the women wouldn’t like us. My brother won’t permit me a wife, though he has eight, and I am lonely but I have my food and that makes me happy.” Mary jerked, in obvious distress, so Bill brought her back to the future and told her she was, four year old, Mary again, and that it was the middle of the night, so she should sleep.
She immediately settled down and rested and Bill motioned to Tom to come with him, into another room where they would not disturb Mary in resting. They did so quietly and sat down and each felt that was quite interesting and this life as Johannes was obviously important but not the conclusive life to solve the problem. Together they came to the conclusion to ask her to go back to a life that she was unhappy because she was fat. They returned to where Mary was asleep and quietly sat down once again, and gently Bill urged Mary; “go back even further, past the life as Johannes, until you are in a life where you were terribly unhappy because you very fat.” Immediately, she started crying. Big giant sobs. It took Bill’s gently soothing voice, overwhelmed by her sobs, to eventually settle her and Bill asked; “Where are you?” Mary responded, “I am in my bed, in my bedroom,” as she continued to cry tears. Bill asked, “Why are you crying?” After a brief catching of her breath, she said: “I am Theresa Barrett. I haven’t been able to get around. I have been in my bedroom for 5 years now because I am so fat I cannot get out of the door to other rooms. Now I can’t even walk anymore. I’ve been on a big mattress spread out on the floor and I keep praying to die to end my misery. It is terrible! I can’t stand it any longer!” She immediately started her sobbing again and it took about 5 minutes to settle her down so she could continue. Bill then asked, “Why are you so fat?” After a brief pause, a raspy voice answered; “I have glandular trouble. I hardly eat enough to keep a bird alive. I am going to kill myself, I can’t stand it any longer!” and started her sobbing again and with that Bill ordered Mary to come back to the present day there in his office and rest. It was obvious that she did, for she immediately lay quiet and appeared to be resting very comfortably. Bill told Mary to remember because that trauma may be a clue to her problem in this life. He looked at the time and because of the medication decided to give her another little period before he brought her out of her hypnotic state. Tom and he sat discussing it all and Tom was amazed that it could be done at all. When Mary awoke Bill put the video on the screen and allowed Mary to watch all that had come about in her trance. She was amazed at all that was portrayed there before her eyes, yet remembered it as having happened. Bill gave Mary a copy of the tape and told Mary to review it if the need arose in the future, and Mary thanked Bill and hugged both he and Tom and Bill said “Let us see now if this helps you or if we may need to delve farther. Call me if you need another appointment.” She was elated to think she may be all well now and not have the problem anymore. She had a huge smile leaving Bill’s office that day.

Thomas Ashe was overwhelmed with pride to think all the years he had worked and had never even began to approach the solution to any of his patients that Bill had just successfully done in the unbelievable way he had taken the two patients back into former lives. He was so excited about this he wanted Bill to get a meeting going to show this all to other Doctors. Bill was also very excited about it but told Tom that he had to wait a good length of time to make sure this has helped his two patients for sure. Tom agreed and now knowing Bill’s family problem at home with his daughter, he wanted to see what was going to happen there. He had been hard at thinking since that day he had witnessed the happenings in the garden, and now thinking back upon it, after witnessing the event with Mary Lawrence and the tape of John Hayes. He agreed to let things go normally until all could be confirmed to be viable. He sure was thrilled about being part of it.

Bill called home to see if Heather would like him to bring something home for them all to eat and she said “Yes, thanks, I hadn’t got in the mood to cook yet, so you caught me at the right time!” After dinner, they enjoyed playing monopoly with Glory. She was such a smart little girl, and had become very smart and was way ahead of her years in intelligence. Learning sign language had been a top priority from the beginning and with Glory actually being able to hear it became very simple for them all. Her only confusion was in the hearing of voices, but why the differences that she and mama could hear the birds talking too, and no one else could. But now that the birds had included Daddy too, she let the confusion go. She knew they, the birds had taught her so much in their wait to help her. They had explained to Glory why they were there until she could assure them she would join them after this life was over. It was all so confusing to her, but she looked forward every day to their meetings in the garden. They were not only her family, but her friends, and she loved every minute with them. Everything was a normal life for Glory: television, cartoons, comedies, movies, news and learning became so easy for her. She was getting anxious to start kindergarten. Bill also thought Glory had progressed so well and he thought it was time for them to start hypnotherapy on Glory. He asked Heather and Glory to talk it over with the birds.

Over the next two weeks, Mary Lawrence and John Hayes had both come in, for their follow up consultations and both were convinced that their problems had been solved. John told Bill how his life had gotten so much happier and he was full of energy to do so much more than he ever did that he was so very grateful to Bill. He also gave Bill permission to show his taping in the future to any Doctors if Bill wanted to. Mary Lawrence had not gained any real weight yet, but said she was eating very good meals and her strength was improving, very well! She was loving her days now and going out and about as much as she could. She also gave Bill permission to show her video help to anyone he chose to.

The birds had all agreed that anytime now Bill should help Glory and they wanted to have it done in the garden where they could watch. Bill said “No problem, that sounds perfect!” He said he would set it up for the following weekend and wanted Thomas Ashe there too. “Is that alright?” and all agreed, yes.

He called Tom and Tom said a definite “Yes!” and with plans for then, they would all relax until then.

Bill explained to Glory what he was going to do and she listened as he said he was going to give her a command of “The morning Glories are so pretty.” That would relax her to his commands and she acknowledged by shaking her head Yes. The garden had been set up with extra lounge chairs and camera and microphone cassette player to record the happenings. It was just before three o’clock and Glory was stretched out on a lounge chair, Heather on the bench, and he and Tom on small chairs surrounding Glory. The excitement really started when all the birds came down and settled to where they could watch. Then Bill turned on the camera and turned to Glory and began. “Glory, relax and go at your own pace. The morning glories are so pretty!” He had given her a very small dose of penathol. He watched as Glory relaxed and he continued to talk about the garden, the BIRDS, the flowers and slowly urged her to begin her backward path to when she was born. Then; he carefully worded the next phrase; “Glory: remember a time in your past where you were hidden from your spirit friends and return to the spirit of that time.” It appeared that Glory did not respond; as she lie quietly and just as Bill was about to rephrase the order to her, there was a sudden noise that arose from her lips! It was a strange noise. Bill could not make it out. Not a groan; not a word in any language; but like some kind of squawking noise! Bill said, “Who are you?” again the same noise over and over. Bill lowered his voice and gently asked; “Glory, are you another spirit? You just made a noise, can you talk?” Again, just the squawking noise, but watching Glory laying and moving around in a gentle, but different way, Bill asked, “Who are you? Let your spirit leave that form and look at that spirit form and you now have voice; to describe what you see around you and who you are!” Immediately Glory stopped all movement and a big smile appeared upon her face and then suddenly there was a raspy voice, saying “Ra! Ra.” As Bill and all of those watching so intently; circled around Glory: Bill asked; “What did you say?” Again, came the raspy voice; “Ra! Ra!” Then suddenly it appeared Glory was really enjoying this memory;, for she suddenly sat straight up and from her lips she spoke, “I am Ra. I am where I’ve been for many years before I became Glory. Oh, I love the wind up here!” Bill was curious, as he asked her, “Up here? Where are you?” Glory was obviously very excited as she continued. “I am in my home high above the sea. I’m content all alone. When I am hungry, I know where to go. I know my family wants me with them but I can’t fit in with them anymore. I’d like to, but I don’t deserve to and I am content where I am.” This completely confused Bill and He asked: “Who are you? What are you?” And then the shocking answer came: “Why, an eagle of course! I love to soar with the wind under my wings. I drift around in circles as I am watching for something to eat moving around below. I am quick once I spot my prey beneath me, and then I swoop down suddenly and hold the prey in my talons. I carry it back to the cliff nest; which takes a while because I have to gain in altitude once more, so I beat my wings and glide in circles until I reach my home in a hole at the top of the cliff. Once I rest, I tear up and eat my prey.
Bill looked about him and just looking at the birds and Heather, and Tom, made Bill proud they were involved in this and witnessed it too. “Wow! This was wonderful!” He whispered to them that it was time to bring Glory back and then gently said to Glory; “Now Ra, I want you to return your spirit to Glory; and come home to the present life as Glory, Glory, you will now return to your future life and will remember this life as Ra.” Bill started his countdown, “The morning glories are so pretty, you are now again Glory, 10, 9 8, 7.” Then came the sudden interruption as Ra screeched out! “No! I don’t want to come back there! I want to stay here!” Bill was shocked! He absolutely did not know what to do. What a challenge! He told Ra to settle down now and rest. He also told Glory to settle down and rest and then he turned to the birds and Heather and asked if they had any suggestions for some kind of solution here.
He birds said; “Just let her rest, we will be back soon!” as they suddenly took flight as soon vanished from view like a vapor.

Bill sat with a hold on Heather’s hand and a worried look on his face, as Heather responded; “The family thinks they know where to reach Glory’s spirit now, and they are going to talk her into coming back to us. Bill settled down for he knew now it was out of his hands and the birds would help. They waited there, keeping Glory laying down settled and quiet. As they sat watching Glory, and observing her actions and facial expressions, it was obvious that something was happening in the beyond where Glory was Ra!

The family of birds returned suddenly and started their explanation as to why Glory did not want to return. “She wants you to take her back to the life we, in spirit form, lived in another form with her.”

They continued; “that was as Jenna Damien.” Bill immediately turned to Glory and said; “Glory, leave the life as Ra and go back to the life as Jenna Damien, and remember what traumatic event happened to you in that life that made you not able to have voice and speak in the life as Glory!”

All was quiet for several minutes except for the rustling of Glory’s movements as she was going back to that particular life form. Then suddenly she was panicky and crying and calling out loud; “William,” William!” “No!” “No!” “Will!” “Will!” “Stop!” “Please stop!” “Willlllliiaaammmm!” Glory is absolutely out of breath and exhausted as Bill asks her; “What is happening Jenna?” She replied, out of breath and desperate; “Oh, Will is starting down the road in the carriage and I am running as fast as I can, running so hard and fast. I am right behind the carriage.” Again she screams out, “William!” “Stop: stop!” “Will; stop!” Bill asks; “Why are you chasing the carriage and trying to stop William?” Glory responded; “The bridge is washed out down the road, and Will does not know it, and He is going that way, and it is raining so very hard and thundering so loud and I am stumbling in the mud. I am screaming as loud as I can and he keeps going!” Then suddenly, Jenna was silent; staring wild eyed and helpless and shocked as Bill asks her what is wrong! She replied; “The horses and carriage and William went over the cliff. I can hear bad noises as all is hitting rocks below.” Her eyes had tears flooding down her cheeks, as Bill over talked her sobs to tell her; “Jenna, Just think now! The thunder! The rain! The noise of the wagon wheels on the muddy road! The noise of the galloping horses! There was so much noise that William could not have heard you calling to him. Do you understand? He could not have heard you screaming and calling to him above all those other noises, and He most likely was looking for you!” Jenna lay back suddenly quiet once again and she stopped crying as Bill let the silence happen for a few minutes more and gently told her:
“It is time for you to come back to the life as Glory.” He smiled and looked at Heather, Tom and the apparently happy scene of birds coming closer to surround Glory as he continued: Come ahead from your life as Jenna, as Ra and into the form of Glory!” Bill took Glory’s hand and said, “You are now Glory and when you awake you will remember all that has happened in these former life forms and you will now have a voice to speak with for you deserve it!” He backed away as he started the countdown to see the birds surrounding Glory as he said: “The morning glories are so pretty, 3, 2, 1; “Awake Glory!”
Glory comes out of her trance and looks around and cried out; this time with voice; which startled her and all around her, she shows excitement as the birds come up to her. She shows her absolute joy!
“Now I know! Now I know, oh, I am so happy! I’m o.k. I can talk!”
Bill looked at his watch. “Wow! Three O’clock.” “Time for the meeting in the garden.” “What a meeting!”
He threw kisses to Glory and said; “Welcome home, Glory!” and then he thanked the birds and kissed Heather and took Tom into the house to get on with success to add to their future to help others. They left Heather and Glory to be in the meeting in the garden, for maybe the very last time, and Bill felt very sad at that thought, but he smiled to see the love the birds had for his little girl and they could now hear her new exciting voice, laughing with such excitement to talk now, as he closed the kitchen door. He thanked Tom for sharing this wonderful opening to the rest of their lives. But! It was just the beginning of a whole new ball game in this thing called life.

THE END




FAMILY
SECRETS



BY EDIE J HOLDGRAFER
Copyright 1992