I had the strangest thing happen this morning

[Mabus]

We've got family coming up this weekend for a reunion of sorts. As of this morning we've got two of my brothers and one of my sisters staying at our house. This morning I was making breakfast for everyone. I put half a dozen strips of bacon in a pan and stood there watching them fry. At some point I looked a round the kitchen for my coffee and then remembered I had left it my bedroom when I was dressing earlier so I left to go retrieve it. When I got back a few seconds later I found part of a brownie in the middle of the pan on top of a slice of bacon. The bacon was ready to turn over but the piece of brownie was cool (almost cold) to the touch. I called to my siblings and my husband and asked them who put the piece of brownie in the pan and why. No one had any knowledge of it. In fact, none of them had been in the kitchen because they had not moved. One of my brothers was still in a chair next to the kitchen door and was working on sewing shut a small hole in his pants' pocket. My sister was still outside on the front porch talking to her twin on the phone, so she hadn't moved. My other brother was still upstairs in bed and my husband was clear across the house in front of his computer. I checked and the door that leads to the back porch which next to the stove was locked. The only other "culprits" in the house are the dogs and I doubt they wanted to heat up a piece of brownie.

fwiw, I did make brownies two days ago because I was kid watching. When the kid's parent showed up I packed up about half of the brownies so they could take them home with them. The leftovers, about half of them, were left in the pan and were eaten that evening. I know they were because I got a hankering for one yesterday and all I could find was the empty pan in the sink about four feet from the stove. The outside kitchen door is between the stove and sink. I washed the brownie pan yesterday when I was cleaning the kitchen up knowing that we were going to have half a dozen people running around the house this weekend.

It is just plain weird. We've gone over it and over it several times since then. No one had been in the kitchen since I started preparing breakfast.

[LaurenG]

1. That is strange!

Brownie flavored bacon? I wish I had some insight but the only thing I can get is that a deceased family member who likes brownies wants you to know they're around too.

[Mabus]

2. We were thinking the same thing

My brother from out of town mentioned he thought it might be related to our mom. I do think she would be happy that so many of her kids are getting together and getting along.

I'll just take it as a blessing and be grateful.

[Quakerfriend]

3. I most definitely agree that it is someone from the other side

wanting to let you know they are 'with you'.

They certainly have a funny way of showing you all!!

I had something along these lines happen earlier this week.

On 10/1 my sister called to ask if I would like to join her and my other sister Marcie the following day for a walk in the Morris Estate. I am in the middle of getting ready to move and very busy but, I said sure. Later that evening I went into a part of my attic that I had not been in since we moved in, 14 yrs ago. There I found several boxes of stuff that I thought I had lost long ago- all things very dear to me. Included amongst these things was a picture of my mother (around age 11) at the Morris Estate. My mother lived across the street from the Estate and often went their to play with her friends. I thought the coincidence was funny and put the picture in a plastic bag to take with me when I met my sisters the following day.

So, the following day (10/2) I bustled the kids together and headed over to the Morris Estate to meet my sisters for a walk. I was feeling very harried and as if I did not have time to do this. But, it was a beautiful fall day and I knew the kids would have fun walking with their cousins.

When I arrived and met up with my sisters I showed them the picture of Mom. They both got very emotional and almost started to cry. I thought that was sort of odd, but whatever. Then my sister, Marcie, said that she had brought some of Mom's ashes with her to spread around as we walked. I thought, Hum? Well, OK. So, we went on our walk and had beautiful time- Talking about Mom all along the way.

Later that night, my husband said to me, "It's really nice that you went to the Estate for your Mom's anniversary today." It turns out that in all of my busy schedule I had completely forgotten that this was the one year anniversary of Mom's passing!!

It seems that she 'sent' me the picture of herself at the Morris Estate just to remind me!

[Mabus]

7. I'm pretty sure I know what is going on now

I think it was my friend of 25+ years and neighbor of about 6 years. I found out she passed on recently in car accident that took her life and that of Panda, her dog. In an unrelated event, there was a deadly house fire in my neighborhood. I was helping some friends and their kids through the fire's aftermath and wasn't paying attention to much else. Several of my friend's kids knew some or all of the three children who died. Two of my friend's kids were close friends of the dead children. Needless to say it has been rather hectic around here. I think she would understand and I think she does. I think the brownie bit was her way of telling me she had passed on and that she still loves me as much as I love her.

Anyway, the last time I talked to my friend she invited me over to her house. One of the things she promised me were brownies. So, now it all makes sense.

Wow. Just wow. I feel very blessed. Our experiences were similar. Someone we loved, and who obviously loved us, wanted to give us a special sign to remember them and their love at a time when we each of us were so wrapped up in just holding our own lives together. It is like they wanted to remind us to stop and remember the blessings that surround us each day of our lives by helping us remember how special and powerful the people we love, and invite into our lives, really are. Our experiencs were unexpected but welcome.

[Quakerfriend]

8. Wow, what a story! You, are right -

"It is like they wanted to remind us to stop and remember the blessings that surround us each day of our lives by helping us remember how special and powerful the people we love, and invite into our lives, really are."

It is truly amazing just how comforting such an experience can be.

[Mabus]

11. Yeah I was so bummed yesterday after I found out Michelle was dead

My little sister and I walked back to my house and I just went catatonic for a while. Then I started crying. It was pretty trying but thankfully I've got a lot of great friends and family. By late lst night it all made sense and I felt better.

[Mabus]

6. We figured it out this afternoon

It was a friend of mine that recently passed. (http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=245&topic_id=28544&mesg_id=28568) One of the last things we talked about was eating brownies on her front porch. We used to run into each around the neighborhood when we were out walking our respective dogs. I saw her recently and she promised me brownies (an old joke between us) when I showed up. She said she had the fixings and when I came by we could make them together.

I'm okay with it now.

[NJCher]

4. a few ideas about brownies

I find the fact that the brownie was cold to the touch very interesting. When spirits manifest, the area around becomes cold, according to the accounts I've read from psychic researchers. So maybe if the brownie was cold on a hot surface, it had just manifested.

If you watch that psychic detective team on CourtTV, they have as part of the team a guy who measures the temperature. When the psychics start getting messages, he reports areas of cold. It often seems this is right before Carla tunes in.

Now why a brownie? The brownies were gone and you know for a fact they were gone. So why that particular food item to manifest? Do brownies have any particular significance in your family? Or could there be a pun there? A play on words that means something?

You know, it just occurred to me that a "brownie" is like an elf. Here's one of the definitions from dictionary.com:

...a tiny, fanciful, good-natured brown elf who secretly helps at night with household chores.

I concur that this is a visit from your mother. And why shouldn't she join the family gathering? She probably got a great big laugh out of how puzzled she made you!

Quakerfriend, that is such a lovely story. I'm so glad you made time to walk with your sisters and other family on that date.




Cher

[Mabus]

5. I think we got it figured out

I PM'ed evlbstrd about it this afternoon. It took him a while to PM back so I decided to got ask my psychic friend and neighbor. When I got to her house I found out that she had died in a car accident. To make a long story short, the last time I talked to her she invited me over for a porch party. We were going to drink a few beers, toss back a few brownies and spend the day talking on her front porch. She was making plans to improve her backyard and she wanted to tell me what her plans were. We also talked about working on the garden together. I was stunned but all of a sudden the brownie appearing made sense.

Her death comes on the heels of a fire around the corner from my house that claimed the lives of five family members (grandparents and three of their grandchildren). That took a lot of out of me. Two of the kids were friends of our friends' kids and I spent some time with the parents and the kids reassuring them as best I could. Also, my husband and I have done after-school programs at the local school and we knew the kids too. I was so wrapped up helping my other friends and their kid through the aftermath of the fire that I only had time to talk to my now deceased friend from the car on my way to somewhere. She had just started school for a nursing degree so she was pretty busy too. We just never seemed to find the time to stop and take time out to spend with each other.

Anyway, evlbstrd PM'ed back this afternoon and we talked about the weird day I was having. He let me ramble for a bit and when I asked he offered me refuge at his house for a few hours. I just had to get away from the neighborhood for a while. He made me realize that I'd rather spend my time thinking about the wonderful times my girl friend and I had together rather than spend my time being sad for all the times we had planned but will never have. I know that's the way she would want it. Besides, I was lucky. She was a good woman and I got to spend a lot of time with her. She helped me out after some bad relationships and I did the same for her. We got each other in trouble and covered for each other too. There were stretches when we didn't talk for years but whenever we ran into each other we were like 5 year olds giggling our heads off. I usually don't get along with other women very well. I grew up around a family of boys and spend more time at sporting events than sleep overs. So, having someone I could really relate to was wonderful.

I'll miss trotting up the street to her house but I will always cherish the memory of the brownie piece she left me. At least, I think she left it for me. Anyway, that's more story and I'm sticking to it.

[Quakerfriend]

9. Hey girl!

;-)

How are things going with your work on the pictures?? I was thinking that you might even want to write a book on the subject (When you have the time,right? lol) . I still can't get over the clarity of some of the images of your Bitsy!

Have a nice weekend!

[Why Syzygy]

10. Mabus ..

I don't know or have a clue how the brownie got there.
I hope this doesn't come off the wrong way, but I was just sitting here feeling lonely and wondering why did I move to Austin and run into the freaks and issues . etc. porr me stuff.

And I had clicked on a DU ad that wants us to laugh at the disaster that is Amurica. Not in a laughing mood.

But I almost wet my panties reading your story. Just found it hillarious. Later down thread, I read about all the tragedies you've been through. So I feel sort of guilty for laughing.

If you've found peace and understanding from it, more power. Whoever/whatever surely has a sense of humor. I've been feeling my dad close by a lot lately. And have been trying to send encouragement to my grandmother for help in passing over. She is so ill. Maybe my dad is here to help her.

I hope you don't mind that your share was so funny. It came at a good time for me.
Doing a lot of self reflection lately. Finding Spirit, and asking a lot of whys.
Finding a brownie in the bacon pan is certainly a why question.

[Mabus]

12. It is one of the strangest messages I have ever gotten

and yes, it is funny. I told evlbstrd that our adoption of our evil-toned monikers said something about us. We both tend to look for humor or the silver lining of dark clouds. Instead of letting bad/sad situations get us down we look at those things a little differently than others.

Michelle died taking her dog out to her old boyfriend's house out in the country. I introduced the two of them a long, long time ago and although they had stopped dating years ago they remained friends. Michelle was like that, she was well-loved and well-liked and she always tried to find the silver lining. She was out being the best Michelle she could be and I take the lessons and the laughs we shared to be the best me I can be. I think that's what she would want me to do. I was very blessed to have such a friendship and I will miss her.

[Why Syzygy]

13. Nothing at all wrong

with thinking a little off base. Or so the "world" judges. Those in tune just go . hum . yeah.
Thank you for sharing your humor and good spirit.

I tend to go long term with friends I make. Unless they are the hit and run types. Unfortunately there are those. It takes awhile to get to know someone and I am not an insta friend or anything. I'm a long distance runner.

I know you will miss her. How is her ex-bf doing with it?

Is "Mabus" an evil moniker? That one escaped me.

Your post has also inspired me to spend some time today to reach out to my dad, and help him take grandma home.

[lildreamer316]

15. I agree completely..

Even though you have been through some sad times lately, the incident made me smile also. It's because we know that death is not anywhere need the end. Life is supposed to be fun, laughter, light. Those we have lost are moving on so that they may effect change sooner, come back quicker, whatever it's going to take. I am nothing but excited for them. I think they are also reminding us to be that way also!!
What a wonderful and moving affirmation of life. Thanks for sharing.

[I Have A Dream]

14. I'm sorry that you lost your dear friend, Mabus.

:hug:

[rumpel]

16. It really must have been some trying times

you have been through. I am so sorry you lost your friend, but what an amazing experience.

[MorningGlow]

17. Brownies and bacon?

Elvis...? Is that you...?!

:rofl:

Seriously, Mabus, I'm glad you figured out it was a message from your friend who had passed over--she must have had a wicked sense of humor!

Cheers! :toast:

[marions ghost]

18. interesting.....!?!

I do believe your friend was around Mabus. Enjoyed your story.

I had a little something like this happen recently.

My mother was associated with a butterfly house at her local zoo, so when she died her memorial service had a kind of butterfly theme.

In Sept I was walking on an east coast beach while hurricane Florence was raking up the Atlantic east of Bermuda after Labor Day. The winds were gale force and the surf was huge. I have never seen it like that, the multiple waves were on top of each other so much that from a distance they looked like tsunamis. Spray came off the top of each wave like a huge gleaming crest blowing backwards. The sand storm on the beach was stinging our legs. The usual shore birds were scarce, hunkering behind the dunes most likely.

Sometimes I say to Mom, "Hi Mom, are you there?" just to invoke her memory, but this time I felt she was really close and I said, "Mom, tell me you're here." Just threw that wish to the winds, literally.

A couple of minutes later I gazed into the surf and was most surprized to see a big yellow butterfly fighting the wind just above the waves. It seemed to be holding its own somehow. Just like Mom, a real determined individual. How often do you see a brazen yellow butterfly with gigantic deep blue waves crashing right behind it?

Hi Mom. :hi: O8)