"Makes you think a little...."

Have you ever had those moments where something happens you had a dream about or thought about something and you go " WOAH!  That's so weird!"

Last Monday was one of those days.

I got home Sunday night from a music convention in Yakima, WA.  I got home and my roommate was watching the show "I survived."  It was a guy who was held hostage in a box for 6 months.  The guy on the TV instantly jolted my memory.  It looked just like a man who was my neighbor when I was little.  He was like a second grandfather to me.  He was from Hungry, had grayish, silver hair and a beard; and a strong accent.  I said out loud without thinking "Holy cow!  That looks just like Albert !"  I told my roommate all about my childhood with him: how he would always have candy, I remembered their house and all of his stories about Hungry and I thought to myself "hmm, I wonder how he is doing."

That next morning I was talking to my mom and she said she just found out that morning that he had killed himself.  My heart just sunk and tears started pouring from my face.  I didn't even know why.  I felt incredibly guilty about not keeping in very good contact with him.  Would that have saved him?  It was so heavy to think about.  My mom said "It was sooo strange.  I kept feeling the need to get in touch with him.  I said last week we need to contact him.  Didn't get around to trying to call until today.  There was no answer so she e-mailed his ex-wife's niece.  She e-mailed right back saying he shot himself last week.  My mouth dropped.  No way.  This is too weird.

I told her about what I saw on TV and she couldn't believe it.  If it wasn't enough of a coincidence, she was just recently telling my dad that she believe's there are no hunches in life.  We need to heed that feeling, whether it's a thought of someone or a fear of something, it's meant to be taken seriously.

I thought about the coincidence all day long.  How bizarre is this situation?  I saw something on TV that made me think about this man I haven't seen in years and it happened to my mom at the exact same time.  Makes you a wonder a tad... eh?

To top it off, two of my friends told me their grandparents had passed away.  Man oh man.  What is going on?

When it rains, it pours.... I guess.

This whole situation made me really sit and think about the people we come across in life.  Even after they've gone, do they still send us messages through the TV and through our hearts?  Sure seemed like it last Monday.  Bottom line:  Tell people you love them, think of them often, keep in touch with them and above all trust your instincts about them.

R.I.P. Albert-I will miss you and I wish I got to see you one last time.  I wanted to thank you for all of the good times, lessons, smiles, laughs and chocolate candy. =)  Love you!  Go in peace.