In our family, there’s a similar story about when my grandfather passed. He was in the hospital. My mom suddenly woke up with the feeling that someone was in her room but she was too afraid to turn around so she just laid there. A few minutes later she heard my little brother, about two, talking out in the livingroom. Mom got out of bed and went to the livingroom and found my baby brother there alone. She said, “Who were you talking to?” And he said “Poppy!” Then the phone rang and it was the hospital, with the news that he’d just passed. Mom’s always regretted being too scared to turn around.

The scent thing is an interesting component. My grandfather was an Old Spice guy too. I particularly remember the way his Old Spice soap smelled. One day not too long ago, I was in my office and suddenly the room filled with the spicy soap scent.

Spirits often communicate through scent. I know my Dad’s around when I smell his roll-your-own cigarettes with no possible source.

How lovely that you got to say goodbye to your Grampie in such a special way, and what a wonderful reassurance.

A woman I know also had a “hands-on” experience when her sister passed over. She was on the phone passing on the news that her sister had died when she suddenly felt a hot hand on her back and her sister’s voice in her head saying that now she understood and that she was “all right, better than all right.” She gave Peggy messages to pass on to people.

It’s wonderful to know that love survives when those close to us pass on.