Each grandparent smiled at their grandson but grandfather George was the first to speak. “Sometimes physical people will feel those they love most but that is not always the case. The closeness you two felt while alive was like what the two of us had,” he said while pointing to Granny E. “Your love would make the two of you more aware of each other, alive or dead.”

Granny E spoke up again. “Life will become easier for you as time goes by.” She and George laughed. “Time over here means nothing. You have eons to live now.”

The funeral

Family was gathered and Joshua was amazed how many people actually came to his memorial service. Looking out over the crowd, he could see people he hadn’t seen in years. Not only that but dead friends and relatives were there too. How nice, he thought, life does go on.

His funeral was a little different than most because he hadn’t wanted all the pomp and circumstance some religious funerals entail. He wanted a simple ceremony with some songs he liked and people remembering the good and sometimes the bad he had done, a roast of sorts. And there they were doing just that. People were laughing and sometimes crying but it seemed to be good tears. The only problem he had with it was that he could feel his family emotions more intensely now and their hearts seemed to be breaking. I’m not sure I can bear this, he reflected to himself. This is pain again but not the same kind.

His Granny E volunteered, “Son, that is ‘soul pain.’ It’s quite different from physical pain and you will have to let it go at some point. There is nothing you can do but let them work it out for themselves. Human beings have to have some hurt in their lives in order to grow spiritually but you knew that didn’t you?”

Joshua realized that Granny E had been reading his mind.

“It’s not really reading minds, Joshua. Thoughts are like words over here and if you love someone and listen to them you will hear their thoughts. As time goes on you will learn. Some things you may not have noticed when you crossed over will come to mind again later. Crossing over sends in a flood of information but when you are emotional about having died, you don’t always remember that info until later. You sure have a nice turnout.”

Joshua’s back straightened a little more with pride and love as he heard his grandmother speak. She had always been someone he could talk with and enjoy. Besides, she made the best peanut butter cookies he ever tasted. Thinking about them made his mouth water and amazingly, there they were on one of her old plates, piled high in his hand. Joshua picked up one of the warm cookies and started eating it as he sat behind his oldest son.