The Silver Corvette







My brother Fred died September 24, 2005. Five months and a few days later my sister Linda died. I had dreams about my brother Fred's death months before his passing. This is the last dream that I had about two months before he died.

I was in a small room with a single bed in one corner and a chair at the foot of the bed. The room was very clean, well lit, with no other furniture and one door opposite the end of the bed. Lying on the bed, on his stomach, was my brother. His head was turned to the side with his eyes closed and a look of peace all about him. He was dead. Sitting on the chair at the foot of the bed was our friend Nelson, who died at least two years earlier. I stood at the end of the bed next to Nelson, starring at my brother. I asked, "What happened?" He replied, "Nothing. He got up, said he was going to the store, came back, laid down and went to sleep." "That's it. Nothing more. He just went to sleep." I felt rage well up within me as I stood there. Then I remembered: just a minute, I'm a changed man. I'm not the man I used to be. The rage subsided as I bid my brother farewell. My dream ended.

We stopped over in Prince George for the night on our return from our brother's memorial and funeral. At breakfast I told my sister about the last dream that I had about Fred's death. She replied some what surprised and encouraged, "That's exactly what happened! He phoned me earlier that day saying that he had just returned from the store. He said he was feeling fine. He got up, showered, and decided to go for a walk. He went to the store." She continued, "He was so happy, laughing because he got lost on his way home and had to stop and ask someone for directions. First time something like this happened since he moved into his own place. That's the last I heard from him. He said he was tired and was going to rest. He died later on that night."

I spoke to Fred on the phone three times the day of his passing: at 1:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m., and again at 6:00 p.m. I was very concerned about him and felt a deep need to talk to him. His last words to me were, "I'm very tired bro. I'm going to lay down and get some rest now. I love you and I'll talk to you again later."

Around the middle of February I had another dream. Fred came speeding up to me in a silver corvette. It was a hatch-back with polished silver highlites. He slammed on the brakes, and very skillfully came to a complete stop directly in front of me. He shouted, "Get in!" I looked and there was one of our sisters sitting in the passenger seat next to him. I got in and Fred shouted, "Hang on!" We took off like a silver bullet. When I realized what was happening, and at the speed that we were going, I fought with all of my strength to get that hatch back open. Suddenly, I hollered with all that was in me, "JJEEESSUSSS!" That hatch back flew open, and in slow motion like movement, I jumped out of that corvette in a semi-circle landing on my feet. I turned to the corvette as it was traveling faster than the speed of light, disappearing into the next dimension, through a haze of fog and cloud. I seen only the rear of the corvette as it became a silver blurr. I stood and said, "I'm sorry guys, but I'm not ready for this." The corvette disappeared. My dream ended.

At first I thought it was my sister Sharon that was in the front seat. Upon reflection and prayer, I realized that it was my sister Linda. I said to my wife two weeks before my sister's death, I think Linda is going to be going home soon. Fred came to pick her up in a silver corvette. Two weeks later, quite suddenly, Linda died.

She had in her young life, three major open heart surgeries. Besides other work, she had implanted two artificial heart valves. She was on heart medications and blood thinners. For a brief period of time she was without her blood thinners and had gotten very, very sick, with pneumonia and developed a very serious blood clot. She was sent to the Terrace General Hospital, and within a day or two, to Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria B.C. On the morning of March 4th, 2006, at 5:30 a.m., I received a call from the doctor in Victoria saying that Linda was not going to make it, and, that I should inform the rest of the family. He said that she would not make it through the next twenty-four hours and may even be gone by late afternoon. He requested that family come over as soon as possible so that she would not be alone when the time comes.

I phoned the family, and by noon, my wife, my sister Flora and myself, were on our way to Victoria. I prayed before our departure that the Lord would keep Linda alive long enough for us to spend some time with her. Before we left we had to go to the bank to cash a cheque. Upon leaving the bank I hopped into the car and said to my wife, "There. We are officially on our way. One stop, to pick up our sister Flora." We turned onto the main road, Broadway, and immediately a silver corvette pulled in front of us, leading us for a distance before it took its own course. My wife and I sat silently, looking at each other, and at the corvette. No words were spoken. We continued on our journey and arrived at the hospital at 4:30 in the afternoon. We got to spend some time with Linda. Although she was heavily sedated and non-responsive, we knew that she knew that we were there. As we spoke to her, tiny puddles of tears welled up in the corners of her eyes. She passed away at seven-o-clock that evening.

I went back to the family room. My wife came in a few moments later offering her condolences and holding me. She said, "Sweet-heart. Remember when we turned on to Broadway and a silver corvette came in front of us." I said, "yes." "Your brother Fred came to get your sister Linda." I replied, "I know baby. I know." I held back my tears for I had to be strong. The time for my crying would come.

My sister, after the autopsy would be sent back to Terrace, back to the family at which time she would be taken to our reserve. No one, except my wife and sister Flora, knew about my dream of the silver corvette. A couple of days later we arrived in Terrace. My brother Cecil who had been looking after much of the affairs, concerning our sister, invited me to the funeral home to see the casket that they had picked out. He, our brother George, and sister Addie, had picked out a very simple but elegant casket for Linda, indicative of her gentle nature and calming spirit. She was a woman of great simplicity; very kind, very gentle, very giving, and very loving. He called me into the back room where the casket was, and to my surprise, I looked at it and exclaimed, "Cecil. The silver corvette!" (I had just shared with him my dream of the silver corvette the morning we arrived in Terrace). He said, "You're right!" The casket was finished with a fine silver, nicely patterned linen material, and the handles were all of polished silver. I stood there in awe, inspired, and encouraged. The hand of God, just like my brother's departure, was all over this.

The truck that drove my sister to her final resting place was silver. All these things unplanned, yet so beautifully put together.

I thank God for his mercy in preparing my heart for the departure of two of my best friends. The warnings were time for me to pray for increased strength and hope, for myself, and for my family; a prayer for protection over the souls of my brother and sister, and their soon eminent departures. One of the most beautiful things of all, the corvette has always been my dream car. Ever since my earliest years, around tenish, when I first seen the movie, "Corvette Summer," I've always had a fascination with corvettes. My brother and my sister, continue to enjoy the best ride of your new lives!

Another point of interest. We've seen many corvettes around town, but never a silver one. The first time we seen a silver corvette was about a month before our sister died. We were on our way to a coffee shop on Main Street, the corvette was parked on a side street on route to the coffee shop. I immediately pointed it out to my wife. It was a very beautiful car. The next time we seen a silver corvette was when we were leaving to see Linda in the hospital in Victoria.

Quite significantly, after my sister's death, and at the times that I'd really been missing both my brother and sister, a silver corvette would appear from some where, pass close by and breed feelings of such comfort. It was as if my brother and sister were driving by to say "Hi" and to let me know that everything is alright. Each time I whisper, "Hello my brother and sister. I love and miss you so very much."

God is so merciful.

Take care and may the Lord richly bless.

Sincerely,

Godwin H. Barton
- posted by Free2write @ 11:40 PM