I really didn’t believe in the world of Spirit … until my brother Gene died.

His death, nine years ago, changed me in indescribable ways and he became my ally, my link, my access to that invisible world. My faith in the spirit helpers that apparently existed on the ‘other side’ was almost nonexistent but I definitely believed in Gene and the deep connection we had.

After he died, I didn’t expect anything extraordinary to occur, so I was surprised when I started to feel his presence around me. The first huge thing that changed was my newborn daughter’s disposition. Gabrielle was 1½ months when Gene died and for that first 1½ months, all she did was cry all the time. After he died, the change in her was almost instant! She stopped crying and was content and peaceful. She would smile and coo as she seemed to watch someone invisible to me. I knew he was helping us – and I was SO humbled and thankful.

I’ve felt him continuously since he’s been gone and I’ve had many meaningful signs, dreams and answered prayers too – all which linked to him.

Soon after his death, (and this is really odd as I rarely listen to the radio), but every time I would turn it on, I would hear the song: Bird on a Wire. For me, the words in the song were a sort of apology between Gene and I, where we acknowledged our imperfections and offered our forgiveness.

This song has continued to link me to Gene but last November it was pivotal. I just drove out of Northern Star College when I saw a man that looked exactly like Gene in a truck very similar to the one he used to drive. It was like I was seeing him alive! Then, ‘coincidently’ at that exact same moment, I had inserted a new CD Catherine Potter had just released (and given to me only 10 minutes earlier), and much to my surprise, Bird on a Wire began to play! The emotional impact was instantaneous - it hit me hard. This sign from him was so powerful that I knew it meant something big.

When I arrived home, I went for a walk, trying to figure out what the message could be. As I came back into the house, the phone was ringing and it was sister-in-law, Lina, telling me that Dad was very ill and we all needed to come right away. Suddenly, the sign made sense. My Dad died just two days later.

I knew that Leonard Cohen had written Bird on a Wire so when my sister, Shelley, said he was coming to Edmonton a few months ago, I was eager to go. Shelley tried to buy us ‘pre-sale’ tickets but all that was available was row 220 and higher. We decided our best bet was to wait until the other tickets went on sale to the general public and buy them online, separately, as quickly as we could.

That morning I was ready and waiting, when around 9:55 a.m., I thought of Gene and then sent a little prayer to him, asking him, if possible, to help us get the best seats available as Leonard Cohen’s music was a link to him.

At 10:00 a.m., I went on line and INSTANTLY got two tickets on the floor in row 13, seats 5 and 6! This was a huge shock as I had tried the exact same thing for Elton John tickets and ended up in the high 200’s (within minutes of them going on sale).

Because Shelley lives in Bonnyville and her computer/internet is much slower than mine, I waited patiently for her to let me know what she got. However, as time ticked by, I wondered if I should have bought her tickets for her.

Over half an hour later, she finally called. I excitedly told her about my ground floor tickets. She said: “What row?” “Row 13, seats 5–6,” I answered. And then something wondrous happened. She said: “We’re in row 13 too! Seats 1 – 4!”

My eyes instantly welled up with tears. “Thank you Gene,” I said inside. Not only had he answered my prayer, but he put us side by side! There are over 12,000 concert seats in Rexall Place coliseum, and to think that my sister and I would end up sitting beside each other ‘coincidently’ at a concert this size – this was a miracle for me. I knew Gene had helped.

I’m not exactly sure what happens when people die but I’ll tell you one thing I believe for sure - they hear us, they see us and they help us. And if it’s possible, they love us even more.

It really isn’t about the song and it isn’t about the concert. It’s about the fact that through time and space, we are all ALWAYS so connected to our departed love ones.

Talk to them. They hear you.

Connie