John’s grandfather passed away last week. Nobody expects their loved ones to die, but this came as a huge surprise/shock to the whole family. It broke my heart to see them going through such pain because I know exactly what it feels like. My father died more than 10 years ago and sometimes I feel like it was just yesterday; not a single day goes by without my thinking of how much I miss him. But it was comforting to see how the members of a very close family were there for each other, doing the best they could in a very difficult moment.

My sister in law mentioned that she was afraid of dreaming any more because she had a dream about her grandpa dying and it became true. In moments like this, everyone starts speculating and I personally grew up afraid of ever seeing a black butterfly because apparently it means someone is going to die. I’ve never had a premonition, I’ve never had a bad dream come true. I don’t know how true these things are and I really haven’t discussed it with anyone. Was my sister in law’s dream premonition? Maybe… I’ve heard of such things.

My mother claims she had a dream just a few nights before my brother died. My dad and her were on top of a very big, lush tree and they were looking at each other thinking “What on earth?” Then many people started arriving to the site and they were all looking at them wondering. My mom says she remembers thinking “All these people here with us, and nobody can help us.” Days later my brother died and I’ve never seen so many people at a funeral (the cathedral of my hometown was full and there were people in the street as well). There was my mother’s dream, all those people… no one could help us. So many faces surrounding us, we felt alone.

My dreams are rather mundane; I don’t remember having that many revealing ones, but I’ve had some dreams with meaning. Like when I got divorced and I dreamed I was flying… I’m sure it meant something about freedom. But most of the time I just dream of people I know. My favorite dreams are the ones where I see my dad, all smiley and shiny, doing they day to day things we used to do. I never wake up sad, they uplift me. So I’m glad he comes to visit me in my dreams.