Dream

It was a big family reunion; several small children and Barbara were tussling on the floor. I reached over and tickled Barbara. She squealed and then, suddenly, she stopped and grew somber.

"What is it?" I asked, alarmed because I suspected what it was.

"My life wasn't planned to be this way," she said, quietly.

"I know," I replied, "but listen; right now, for this moment " - I already knew it wasn't going to be longer - "we can laugh and play, and I can see you and hear you, and I can feel your warmth and even the softness of your hair, and do you realize what a great thing, what an incredible miracle that is?"

And then, sure enough, the moment was over, because I woke up.

But it still is an immense miracle, every moment each of us, the living, can still see and hear and be with one another, for now.

And the blessed communion we have with the saints who have reposed is an even more stupendous miracle.