Was it a farewell dream?

Tuesday night I had a strange dream. Three people I've not before seen in my dreams were present; my aunt Gini, my brother and my estranged (adoptive) "dad." Yet the dream actually centered around my dearly departed Grandma.

The setting was someplace like Washington's San Juan Islands. My brother, "dad" and I were awaiting my Grandma's arrival. My aunt was escorting her on the ferry.

As is true with many dreams, the landscape was pretty unusual. For example, there were canals and channels that ran on inclines. The one the ferry was expected to sail up resembled a giant log flue. There were very rounded hills that looked a bit cartoonesque in shape. The village as it were had cute cottages with canals running between rows of them.

We had to be right at the dock for Grandma's arrival as she has mobility issues stemming from a herniated disk in her lower back. The approaching ferry looked more like a very common green fishing boat; this one used exclusively for walk-on passengers. As the boat neared the dock, I saw my aunt standing behind an empty wheelchair and my Grandma standing next to her. My aunt wore a red sweater. My Grandma wore black, semi-light-weight material pants and a gray sweater. This was very unlike her as incarnate she always wore colors, bright colors.

The moment my Grandma and I saw one another, we extended the same hand as though waving at ourselves in the mirror. We both grinned ear to ear. We waved at each other vigorously as joyful tears streamed down our cheeks. A profound feeling of elation washed over me. I had never before been so excited to see another being as I was to see my dearest Grandma.

The boat hadn't yet tied up to the dock, and my Grandma leaped out of the boat at me! She flew right into my arms and I caught her. We embraced and wept joyfully. No sooner had I began to grasp that moment, I awoke.

My feelings and emotions around this connection were so real, they stayed with me well into my awakened consciousness that morning.

I mentioned this dream to my best friend. She had the same sense I did; my Grandma wanted me to know she was crossing over into the eternal afterlife. The ferry is one of the oldest symbols of transition between life and the afterlife; crossing the River Styx. This may seem strange. I also have this sense she wouldn't have crossed over unless she knew I was going to be OK, and I think she was assuring me we are going to reunite. My heart of hearts already knew this. Still, this was an extraordinarily enchanted vision I am so grateful for.