MY DEAR MOTHER HAD TAKEN SICK AND WAS IN THE HOSPITAL FOR SURGERY. WE WERE THERE EVERY DAY AND SHE SEEMED TO BE PROGRESSING VERY WELL. THE VISITING HOURS WEREN'T UNTIL ONE P.M. SO I DECIDED TO DO A LITTLE EARLY MORNING ICE FISHING. I GOT ALL MY GEAR TOGETHER AND DROVE OUT TO THE LAKE WHICH WAS ABOUT 20 MILES FROM HOME. I WAS VERY COLD AND FORTUNATELY A FRIEND HAD GAVE ME THE KEYS TO HIS ICE SHANTY.
I GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND PROCEEDED TO LOAD ALL MY GEAR ONTO THE SLED. AFTER LOADING THE SLED I PULLED THE SLED OUT TO THE SHANTY WHICH WAS ABOUT A HALF MILE ONTO THE LAKE. I HAD NO SOONER GOT INTO THE SHANTY WHEN THIS WEIRD FEELING CAME ABOUT ME. SIMILAR TO THE ONE I HAD IN THE WAR. SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH MY MOTHER.
WITHOUT HESITATION I RETURNED TO THE CAR LOADED MY GEAR AND DROVE LIKE HELL TO MY HOME. AS I TURNED INTO THE DRIVEWAY I COULD SEE MY WIFE IN THE KITCHEN WINDOW AND SHE WAS ON THE PHONE. SHE SAW ME AND WAS WAVING THROUGH THE WINDOW FOR ME TO COME IN. I RUSHED IN AND MY WIFE SAID THAT MY MOTHER WAS FAILING AND THAT I HAD BETTER GET MY BROTHER AND GET TO THE HOSPITAL RIGHT AWAY. I PICKED MY BROTHER UP AND DROVE TO THE HOSPITAL JUST IN TIME TO SPEND THE LAST FEW MINUTES WITH HER BEFORE SHE PASSED ON. I WOULDN'T HAVE FORGIVEN MYSELF IF I MISSED THOSE FINAL MOMENTS AND I KNOW MY BROTHER FELT THE SAME. SOME PEOPLE SAY A PERSON DOES SINCE WHEN SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH A CLOSE RELATIVE. AFTER THESE EXPERIENCES I CERTAINLY BELIEVE IT.