My wife and I were standing at the checkout line (No.4 to be exact) having small talk when I noticed the cashier's receipt tape from another aisle float up in the air, almost the entire roll,  and it passed slightly behind, then land on me. As I watched it, my eye caught a glimpse of a woman with gray hair, (who obviously had just had it done), in a gray coat. She was an older woman, and slumped slightly in the shoulders, looking at the packages in the meat freezer. I remember telling my wife "that she looked exactly like my mom. I kept looking over, and became more convinced that it was my mother. I walked over, bent slightly forward to get a better look, and with a nervous voice said "Mom? Is that you?"  she looked at me and said, "well there you are!". She looked fantastic. Her eyes were crystal blue, her skin very healthy, and she didn't have that damn oxygen line strapped to her face. I remember that I wanted to, but wasn't allowed to hug her. I remember tears just flowing down my face as I looked upon her.

I asked her "Is dad here?" and she replied that he was, and that he would be along in a minute. She said that we should go upstairs (DLM has a mezzanine level where shoppers can have a coffee and relax) and catch up. As we walked towards the elevator, which we always had to take because she couldn't handle the stairs, she looked at me said we didn't need to take the elevator, that the stairs were fine.  We went upstairs and found a table, and started talking. I distinctly remember my Mom introducing herself to my wife. I asked her how she was and she said she was happy and at peace. At that moment, a younger man of about 25 came walking up. He was wearing a red and black plaid wool jacket, and his hair was nice and trimmed. "Hiya Jack!" the man said, grinning from ear to ear. It was my Dad. What is strange is that my Dad was 45 years old when he passed away.

My Dad sat down, introduced himself to my wife (I was kind of in shock to really say anything). Then my Mom and Dad looked at me and told me that they wanted me to quit trying to take care of my brothers and sisters, and focus on being happy. My Dad clearly said "I'm sorry for putting that burden on you buddy. I wanted you to take care of your sister."  I should note that the last words my father spoke to me we're "you're the man now. Take care of the family." being only 5 years old when he passed, I took that to heart.  My Mom told me that I needed to let her go and not worry about her, and that she is happy, loved, and secure. With that they stated that they had to go. This time she and my father walked to the elevator. When the doors opened, they got in, and I felt this weird force push me back.  I  guess I gave them a weird look because they just smiled and said "no Jackie, you are not allowed to come you have much to do.. We love you" and with that the door closed and they were gone.  I woke up immediately after that. Happy to know they were together and in good spirits, but incredibly sad that I wasn't able to join them. 

Was this experience difficult to express in words?  No

Did you ONLY sense an awareness of presence of the deceased without actually seeing, hearing, feeling or smelling them?            No

Did you hear the deceased or hear something associated with the deceased?          Yes

            Describe what you heard, how clearly you heard it and what was communicated:    See my answer in No. 3

            Did the voice or sound seem to originate externally or outside of you, inside you, or did you not hear a voice or sound, but had a sense of knowing what was communicated?  It was them speaking to me directly.

            If you heard a voice or sound, was it similar or dissimilar from the voice or sound the deceased made when they were alive?           For my Mom, yes. For my Dad, I was too young when he died to remember the sound of his voice.

            Is there any possibility what you heard was from any other source present in the surroundings at the time of your experience?           No.

            Was there any possible impairment to your hearing at the time of the experience?   No.

Did you feel a touch or experience any physical contact from the deceased?            No

            Is there any possibility what you felt was from any other source present in the surroundings at the time of your experience?  No.

Did you see the deceased?         Yes

See my answer in No. 3

            How clearly did the deceased appear?            Human and clearly healthy.

            How much of the deceased did you see?       All

            Did the deceased appear or not appear to be the age at which they died?       For my Mom yes, for my Dad no. He appeared as a young man, ready to take on the world

            How healthy did the deceased appear to be?            See my answers in No. 3

            Is there any possibility what you saw was from any other source present in the surroundings at the time of your experience?           No.

Did you smell a distinct smell, scent, fragrance or odor associated with the deceased?      Yes

            What smell, scent, fragrance or odor did you smell?           My Moms perfume. I also smelled roses after I woke up.

            Is there any possibility that the smell, scent, fragrance or odor was from any other source present in the surroundings at the time of your experience?        No.

How long did the experience last?        It seemed to be quite awhile.

Was the beginning and end of the experience gradual or more sudden?         Sudden. See No 3

Could you sense the emotions or mood of the deceased?           Yes

Very happy, upbeat, positive, relaxed.

Did the deceased give you information you did not previously know?  Besides the clothes of my father ( I told my older brother, and he told me Dad had a jacket exactly like I described). No.

How do you currently view the reality of your experience?           Experience was definitely real

            Please explain why you view the reality of your experience as real or not real:           Because of the detail of the surroundings. I could also smell the aromas of DLM. It has a very unique offering of foods, so it is incredible.

            Was the experience dream like in any way?   Yes

Just the cashier registry tape, other than that, it did not appear to be a dream.         

Describe in detail your feelings/emotions during the experience:           Grateful. I miss them so much.

Was there any emotional healing in any way following the experience?           Yes

I know that they are together, and well.

What was the best and worst part of your experience?      Identifying them and having to let them go again.

Has your life changed specifically as a result of your experience?         No      

Did you have any changes of attitudes or beliefs following the experience?   No      

Did the experience give you any spiritual understandings such as life, death, afterlife, God, etc.?  No           

Death Compacts are when two or more living people promise among themselves that whoever dies first will try to contact the other(s).  Have you ever made such a compact?   No

Did you observe or hear anything regarding people or events during your experience that could be verified later?          Yes Again, my fathers jacket.

What emotions did you feel during the experience?            Hard to describe.

Was the experience witnessed or experienced by others?           No

Did you have any sense of altered space or time?   Yes

Yes because the cashiers tape literally floated and danced in the air before landing on me.

Did you have a sense of knowing, special knowledge, universal order and/or purpose?    No

Did you become aware of future events?       No

Did you have any psychic, paranormal or other special gifts following the experience that you did not have prior to the experience?         No

Did you experience a separation of your consciousness from your body?     No

Did you meet or see any other beings other than the deceased?            No

Did you see a light?           No

Did any part of your experience seem to occur in a place other than the location described above?            No

Have you shared this experience with others?         Yes     One of shock and disbelief, and happiness.

Have you shared this experience formally or informally with any other researcher or web site?   No

Were there any associated medications or substances with the potential to affect the experience?            No

Following the experience, have you had any other events in your life, medications or substances which reproduced any part of the experience?         No 

Did you ever in your life have a near-death experience, out of body experience or other spiritual event?           No 

Did the questions asked and information you provided accurately and comprehensively describe your experience?               Yes