Believe It Or Not

It was a cool morning in 1968, and I was preparing for my day off as counselor of the Badger bunk. The campers were out, doing their morning activities, and I had the place to myself, as well as the rare privilege of sole access to the showers. Taking advantage of the opportunity, I took a long, hot one, without interruption. It was as if I were Ponce De Leon taking his first dip in the fabled fountain of youth.

Feeling completely rejuvenated by the warm water's sedating effect, I laid down on my cot, and immediately fell into a blissful nap. Suddenly, I had the sensation of hovering over my body, looking down in disbelief. There I was, dead to the world, while my ethereal self floated above. Thinking it a dream, I waited for the subconscious adventure to begin, but still I hovered. Typically, a dream plays out like a movie, taking us to places we may or may not choose to go. Therefore, I shouldn't be able to move about at will, and, verifying this theory might validate the vision. I endeavored to leave the room and instantaneously became airborne, at what seemed to be two hundred feet above the boy's campus!

The feeling was euphoric, touching the intangible, beyond the earthly ties that bind us to our bodies. This was soon replaced by another, more unwelcome thought: what if I was unable to re-inhabit my physical form? Was I ready to remain in this unreal realm, seeing but unseen, removed from the life I was leading, leaving my loved ones and friends? Panic pervaded my presence, and I resolved to return to my fleshy self.

In an instant I was passing through the wall of that rustic cabin I called my Omega home. Again, another unnerving thought gripped my ghostly noggin: could I make it to the other side and remain intact, so to speak, or was there a risk of freezing in place? At once, I became stuck in mid-wall.

Straining to extricate myself from this unwanted state, I miraculously broke free of my bonds, once again gazing down at my limp, lifeless self. But now began the last, and most difficult leg of my journey: to re-unite with my self and awaken in my former world. The melding began, and as the question of re-entry was resolved, I bolted upright from my slumber. What a gift, I thought, to be given the knowledge that there's more to life than life. As what, I didn't know, and furthermore, didn't care.

Dressing quickly, I ran swiftly to the main house, past the staircase, not stopping until I reached the kitchen. I instinctively knew that my Mom would be sitting there in her sweatshirt, shorts and Keds, planning the next evening's activity or even perhaps the Color War breakout.

"Mom!", I proclaimed loudly, scaring her half to death, "Great news! It doesn't end here! We will all live on! I know, I was just on the other side!". She looked at me, wondering if I had lost my mind, but, in her uncanny way, she quickly realized that I was not delirious. After a reassuring hug, she whispered "I believe you". That was enough; her concurrence was all I needed to certify my sanity.

So, dear reader, I leave it to you. Think what you will of this story. All I can say is, it happened, Bern will corroborate my tale. And I've shared it with others who've had similar experiences. Perhaps you have, too, but are reticent to share it with another living soul.

In any event, you now have mine to mull over. Believe it, or not.