The beginning Part 3

Remembering who and what came before, and settling into a new life

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Helen and Suzy

According to the University of Virginia School of Medicine:

Some young children, usually between the ages of 2 and 5, speak about memories of a previous life they claim to have lived. At the same time they often show behaviors, such as phobias or preferences, that are unusual within the context of their particular family and cannot be explained by any current life events.

Older children may retain these apparent memories, but they generally seem to fade around the age of seven.

Don, Helen, and Suzy settle into life together in their small bungalow-style home on the coast just south of San Francisco. Helen's heart is a constant battleground, filled with fear of her ex-husband, Jack. She has done what she can to keep her whereabouts a secret, even from her closest family members. Not only do they not know where she resides, but they have no idea of her pregnancy or that she has given birth to a baby girl and married Don.

Don and Helen spend their days in quiet discontent. While Don works, Helen often takes Suzy to the ocean, which is perfect as one of Suzy’s favorite reasons to return to Earth is to enjoy the beach again. But even amidst the ocean’s lull, it's palpable to Suzy that Mommy is lonely, despite Suzy's best efforts to keep Helen busy. 

Suzy remembers God and the Angels explaining how important friends would be in her upcoming life, pointing out that she likely wouldn’t meet any of these friends until the age of three or after. They reassured her that she would likely connect with family members, grandmothers, aunts, uncles, and cousins while waiting. (Suzy would not enjoy the benefit of a grandfather in this incarnation as they both had passed long before she would arrive.) 

Suzy becomes impatient to meet her friends, as few family members visit. The Angels made friends sound so heavenly; she could use extra support to help Don and Helen. The Angels did not anticipate the family dynamics that would ensue in Helen’s life; there’s always free will that can’t be governed or predicted.

One day, Suzy overhears a conversation about Jack, who is apparently coming to visit and meet “the baby.” Don and Helen’s voices are tense as they discuss Jack’s arrival. Suzy is just happy someone is coming to visit. 

Jack’s visit turns out to be unexpectedly healing for Helen and Don. He holds Suzy in his arms and leaves without incident. Jack is suffering from mental illness, which Suzy knows nothing about. What she does know is that she feels no threat from this man. This unexpected turn of events brings a glimmer of hope to the family. 

Grandma Kuhn.

After Jack’s visit, it seems the floodgates open for visitors. Suzy meets Helen’s mother when she is six months old; she is known as Grandma Kuhn. This woman feels akin to Suzy, but Helen deeply resents her mother. This stark contrast in their feelings sets the stage for an emotionally complex family dynamic, and sadly, Suzy will enjoy Grandma Kuhn’s company only three to four times in her life. 

Suzy with Grandma Cook. “Are you my friend?”

Months later, Don’s mother, Augustus Cook, will visit, who will be known to Suzy as Grandma Cook. Augustus is a very proper woman who loves her son fiercely. She doesn’t celebrate Helen in any true spirit. Instead, she sees Helen as the fifth wife of her broken son. Grandma Cook will visit Suzy perhaps a dozen times before she passes.

God and the Angels meet regularly in the grove where they first planned Suzy’s life, commiserating over the less-than-ideal circumstances that Suzy is experiencing. It’s not that they worry for her, as they know she has made the choice to return to earth to hopefully bring healing to Don and Helen and that she is up to the task. It’s just that no parent enjoys seeing their children struggle. They pray together at the koa wood table often, sending their love.

Suzy feels their prayers, usually when it is quiet, and she’s alone in her crib. In response, she only asks God and the Angels when her friends will arrive. They lovingly assure her they will be here before she —  can remember.

I will be taking a one-week break from writing next week; my son has been here and will be leaving Monday morning and we will be visiting with dear friends the remainder of the week. I’ll be back the following week with Part 4.

1. I borrowed these opening remarks from

Lisa Olivera

as I feel they are some of the nicest opening comments I’ve seen recently. You being here means a great deal to me.