My mom died several years ago at the age of 88.

She did not go to college.  Mom’s major calling was that of a housewife.  She kept a beautiful home and was quite an accomplished, self-trained interior decorator.  I remember our house being totally redone three or four times.  Her home and tending to the needs of her husband and raising her only child was the major focus of her life.  She would occasionally volunteer for causes that interested her.

One volunteer organization was a group of women dedicated to lowering the high school dropout rate in Indianapolis.  Its work was the subject of a large article in the Indianapolis star.  I was working as an intern (my first post college job) for senator birch Bayh (D-IND).  I called the article to his attention.  He inserted it into the congressional record and offered a tribute to the group. Mom’s name in the congressional record!  Pretty neat!

In the ‘70’s and ‘80’s, there were a great number of books written by people who had experienced “after-death” experiences and who returned to life after serious accidents or major operations.  They were able to recount in great detail the location of objects in the operating room—things that were done and said, during surgery, etc.   The books were fascinating, short, mostly paperbacks and made fascinating reading.

One day, I started telling mom about these books, many of which involved women in childbirth.  My mother’s face fell, and her eyes widened.  She teared up and said, “Jerry, that’s what happened to me when you were born!”

She related to me that my birth was difficult—a fact I had known all my life.  That is why I was an only child.  Having another was too dangerous.

Mom related a difficult, painful, and lengthy birth process.  She recalled being whisked at great speed down a dark tunnel and arriving at the end of the tunnel in a bright light that was peaceful, warm, and alluring and being told she could enter the light or turn back.  She communicated with the spirit that she wanted “to go back and raise her son.”

By this time, mom and I were sobbing and laughing and hugging all at once.    

Although this phenomenon of after-death experiences has been the subject matter of many books, tv shows and investigations since Mom and I had our talk, there is no consensus among the medical or spiritual communities as to these incidents’ origins and their meanings.  But mom and I had a pretty good idea as to what it meant to us.  This is where our strong bond began!