September 15, 2006

Bide One's Time

Who Goes There in the Shadows?
By Lee Prosser

When a child recalls his parents or those close to him or her, that child has a set of images to reflect on. When an adult or elderly person recalls the parents, there is still that set of images to reflect on. There may be an abundance of images to draw upon, perhaps not, but what we have available is what we desire best to see.

My father is dead, and my mother is approaching her conclusion to this present life and the body she inhabits. Soon, they may see each other. But will they see each other as they best remember, or will they encounter the image of something else?

I recall until recently my elderly mother was viewing a black and white photo of her with my father. The photograph was taken in World War Two, and the couple appear happy together. The photograph was taken on August 13, 1944, my father is wearing his Navy uniform, and my mother is wearing her favorite dress. Father was in the Seabees. Mother went to where he was stationed whenever possible.

At this moment in time, I am looking at that photograph. I hope my mother and father will find each other as they best remember each other. The mind is a wonderful time machine, and it can take you wherever you want to go and make the memory real. It gives one pause, something to consider... what would you wish to focus on during your last dying moments, what vision will you seek to connect with?

It is for sure there is a great chance the mind time machine will take you there. You will know it when you get there. And that could well be the way of it, in toto.

Lee Prosser is Ghostvillage.com's book reviewer and a regular contributor. "Bide One's Time" is Prosser's twice-monthly column on his supernatural musings.