Beep From Beyond Has Alarming Implications

From Dear Abby Column

By The Rev. James Blantz

At the wake, the woman told her priest that ever since she was a child, she and her father had discussed life after death. They had agreed that whoever went first would try to contact the other. They had discussed it again only two weeks before his death.

He died in her home, and a few hours later, the smoke alarm in her garage went off. She had lived there for 28 years and it had never gone off before. She didn’t know how to stop it and had to call security company that had installed it.

The next morning, the alarm sounded again--and the reason finally dawned on her. She said aloud, “OK, Dad, I missed the signal yesterday, but I’ve got it now. Thanks for letting me know you’re safe on the other side. Now turn the darn thing off so I don’t have to call the security company again!” And it went off!

She immediately called her priest to relay the good news. His response: “ Dear, if every time your father sends you a message, he sets off the SMOKE ALARM, just where do you think he’s calling from??” . . .