“Welcome to the Other Side. We’ve been expecting you. All is ready, but first, we must complete the final paperwork before we see you through the door beyond this reception area. Yes, even here on the Other Side there’s paperwork, but you may be relieved to know that the inevitable death and taxes you heard of and spoke so much about when you were ‘alive’ don’t apply. Oh, yes, here’s your name on my list for today. I’ve just checked it off.
I was so glad to see you walk through my door safe and sound, again. Again, you ask? Why, sure, honey, we all have multiple lives, some more than others, but you’ll understand it all again when you pass through the next door.
Now, before you go on your way, I have just a few more questions:
How did you die this time? Old age, you say. Quietly in your sleep, or face-first in your soup at the dining room table? Soup. Oh, yes, now I see it. Here, let me wipe off the ring of tomato soup on your face with the napkin tucked in the top of your shirt. There, that’s got it. I can toss the napkin away for you. I have a feeling you won’t need it any longer. Here, let me just brush those stray hairs back out of your eyes. There you go. Who is going to greet you on the other side of the next door? Your wife and one of your kids, your parents, grandparents, and two siblings. Well, that sounds like it’s going to be quite the reunion. I’m excited for you. I hope someone brought cake!
Will you want to go back and attend your own funeral? No, it isn’t weird. Many people do it you know. I showed up at my own funeral to see who and how many people came to pay their last respects. I’m glad I went. I was able to say my goodbyes to a lot more people without having to go to their homes and freak them out when I sit on the end of their beds and start talking to them. Most don’t hear me, so I really don’t know what I’m worried about.
Now, getting back to you: You do know that you’re dead, right? I had to ask, you know, considering that ‘deer in the headlights’ look you have on your face. Let me reassure you that you actually keeled over at the kitchen table at home when you sat down to eat your bowl of tomato soup. You can watch a replay of your last moments once you pass through the door there. Someone will escort you to meet your loved ones after a quick review of your life experiences since the last time you were here.
I know, I know, you thought you would see a really bright light and that all of your loved ones would be in it, greeting you and at the front door, so to speak. They always skip over the part where you go through Reception first. This short visit to my office is a precaution, really; we don’t want anyone crossing over before it’s their time.
Having said that, though, we do issue visitor passes. You’d be amazed how many souls arrive here on the astral travelling plan. You know the one: You used to astral travel most every night after you laid down and fell asleep, but the only time you stopped and spoke to me here at my window was when you travelled here the first time and asked for an infinite visitation pass. We always liked seeing you as you breezed past my reception window, opened the doorway into infinity and commenced your nightly adventures. Sometimes we were concerned when you didn’t come back when we figured it was time you did, so we’d give a little tug on your silver cord to get your attention, you know, a bit of encouragement to get you to return. You always came back through the office with a smile on your face, but on those nights we tugged on your cord, you’d come sailing back through the doorway with the biggest grin on your face, your hair blown back, and your entire body just glowing with radiant energy. Did you know that the energy you brought back with you touched everyone here and on Earth, too? It’s funny how that happens.
Enough reminiscing; I will just stamp my approval for you to proceed on your paperwork and you can be on your way. Please give it to the person just inside the door. They need to see that ‘approved’ stamp.
It was such a pleasure to see you again. Even though you can’t quite place me right now, in time you’ll remember me. Whenever you hear the wind sigh through the trees, see it play across a field of tall grass, or hear the subtlest whisper in your ear, you will remember that I was the one with the angel wings and long, flowing robes that opened the front door and welcomed you home.
(This story is also on Medium, a blog-publishing forum.)
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