A day in Heaven full of inexplicable warmth, beauty

By Chris Roosa CONTRIBUTOR

(Editor’s note: Chris Roosa generally writes humorous features. This month, she has taken a break from the funny and offers a more thoughtful and reflective essay.)

The flowers were abundantly rich with vivid colors, lush beyond belief. Splashes of the deepest alizarin crimson stood alongside pale, yet rich, hues of yellow roses. The backdrop was a variation of vibrant greens with a massive scattering of flowers leading to a cobblestone walkway.

As I wandered along the path I was led to a towering gateway of beauty, surrounded by a valley deep with an intense pallet of colorful blooms. The rays of light were almost blinding as I strolled up to those gates.

There was a spiritual warmth that brought me to this passageway. I was drawn to walk on through to the other side. The valley stretched out before me, more beautiful than anything I had ever seen. I was frozen in place, taking in all that my eyes could witness.

Today I went to Heaven, if only for a brief moment in time. I spent a day reuniting with my parents and friends from long ago and embraced past memories.

Oftentimes I had wondered what it would be like to spend another day with those that had gone on before me. What questions I would ask. since I’d had years to mature and recognize how much knowledge I had allowed to slip away. Questions had come up throughout my life that I didn’t know how to answer. Memories were so far removed that it was difficult to fully recapture them with any clarity.

First, I came upon my mother. I was overcome with emotion. My eyes took in the sight of her and my heart was