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I have had a number of friends who lost loved ones over the past few months. When I first lost Dianne– my wife – she spoke to me – through subtle ways–through birds (we agreed on those as messengers), my dreams, my cat Klezmer, and even her voice – when I was in the limbo between sleep and wakefulness As the years went by – I felt less connected. The other day, while in bed,” I asked the universe, god, or a benevolent spirit, “Is Dianne still here?” It was of course a rhetorical question, during my 3AM night of my soul. Just after I asked the question, the cat jumped on my bed and started sniffing furiously, and my Alexa turned on and started to say something – I couldn’t hear it – but I was surprised because I didn’t prompt it, and it was in the next room. Now of course, this can be explained logically. But I chose to believe it was Dianne – she is still around – her spirit hovers over my bed, my bald, and freckled head. So, for those of you who have lost a loved one – he, she or they – they are there, accept that ethereal stroke of your hair… “Ah! Sweet mystery of life…”