I wonder if in times past we all REALLY did have the ability to communicate with those who have gone on, or if this is just something now that we think we lost along the way. A friend of mine has the theory that this sort of ability is something one is or is not born with, along the same lines as being born with more than average musical talent (many here demonstrate that one!) -- in other words, that it is a natural trait that can be inherited. I've got strong Scots/Irish on both sides of my family, and I have to wonder about this -- some years ago, I went to a Scottish festival to try to find out where the McHendry side of my family came from in Scotland, to help an aunt who was into genealogy. A man at one booth said, "Oh your people come from a place called Glencoe, my wife and I were in that area last summer, here -- look at our scrapbook." I thumbed through the photos with interest. Then I turned a page and came across a photo of a narrow bleak valley between two rather bald knobs. There was nothing outstanding about this photo, it was in fact in line with all the other scenic photos I'd been looking at, but when I saw this one, I burst into tears and could not stop crying, just sobbed like my heart was breaking (to the consternation and embarrassment of my 10-year-old son). The gentleman in the booth leaned down and said, "Oh, then you know the story." I said, "What story?" He said, "About the massacre." I said, "What massacre?" He said, "Why, the massacre at Glencoe -- quite a few people were killed, young and old, and many more died trying to escape." I said, "I have never heard of it." He said, "Ah, but your blood knows."

BarbaraLynn (who wonders why she is showing up as a Guest when she is a member??)