When you die you are usually gone and forgotten. However, in my very rich and colorful Jamaican culture, we understand how important it is to continue to pay homage to our dearly departed. My Granny always made sure that her children and grand children carried on that legacy. Ever since I can remember knowing Gran, she was dying everyday. She would say, "I don't know how long I have, so you must listen to me you know. Anyway, just remember that we Caribbean people never really die."

Those words after a while seemed irrelevant, because Granny lived to a ripe old age. Although Granny died, her presence still lingered on. I am going to tell you a story about My Granny and I, and how her love for me lingers on everyday.

My cousins and I were always into Ouija Boards when we were growing up. I think in those days in Jamaica most kids, at one time or another experimented with them. For those of you who aren't familiar with Ouija Boards, they are like oracles that give information on future events.

As adults, we occasionally dabbled with the board just for fun. I was going through a tumultuous time in my life, where I was experiencing some really strange incidents happening to me. Like unusual people following me. Sometimes I would get threatening crank calls to my home, and at times people would try to be blatantly abusive and disrespectful. I kept praying for the Lord to reveal the culprits behind these pranks, but maybe I was too daft to get God's message.

One of my cousins suggested playing with the ouija board to get my mind off the strange and mysterious happenings. As we started playing with the pieces on the board, it seemed to take on a life of its own. We then heard my Granny's raspy cough, and then there was a harsh breeze that rushed through the room. Then the Ouija Board spelled out "Sexual Harrassment". My cousin Drena looked at me a bit confused. Then it said, "They are going to try to hurt you."

We both yelled "Who!!" The Ouija Board became really still, and then it said, "The Stinger". At first we did not understand, then I remembered,.... that Sting...Stinger....I am Scorpio! It was me!

I had been going through some peculiar events at work. Moreso, since I worked in a male dominated industry. I couldn't quite put my finger on what was happening, but it felt weird. I was being undermined in everything I did. My self-esteem was quickly waning because I felt as If I were being verbally and emotionally abused. The messages on the Ouija Board did not resonate in my mind instantly. However, a few years later two attempts were made on my life.

The most bizarre thing that happened was that my dead grandmother called me on her spiritual phone and warned me minutes prior to the incidents. I didn't know how I would fare, but one thing I remembered her saying was, "Mek Dem Come! The wrath of God and me shall rain down on dem!!"

It took them a while to formulate their plan but they did come. My Granny and God was there every step of the way. Praise Jesus! He helped me to survive.

During the times that we used the Ouija Board, my cousin Drena and I kept asking 'why'. The answer given was, "Toon-Toon" make people do crazy things." That's when I knew the message had to be coming from Granny. She was the only person I knew that spoke in those terms. Granny used to always say, "People don't understand how God sometimes works through our dearly departed."

Well, I am a believer! During those seven or eight years of harrassment., my Granny reached people I didn't even know, to protect me along the way. One day, a Rastaman came up and said to me, "A doing a favour for mi Ital Queen," She say, "Me must look out for you." I laughed, and replied, "Yeah, right." Then he opened a passage in the bible and I understood. It wasn't a joke!!! It was Granny's passage she left me to read every morning.

Spragga, the Rasta was on the job for "Skins". My Granny's pet name amongst the philosophical Rastas. They called her "skins" because she was skinny and very petite. Granny always said, "Have friends from all areas in life, at some point they will become very helpful to you." Granny consorted with beggars to politicians. Everyone was a Prince or Queen among ordinary people.

Spragga, The Rasta, became my constant companion till Granny came to him in a vision to take care of his own business. And not a moment too soon, because someone was trying to take over his business from right under him.

There was another occasion where they tried to anhiliate me from the world. A dread came up to me and said, "I get a calling, I have to see you safely home." He said, "I saw a beautiful, old Jamaican lady, wailing in a vision for me to save her grand daughter." She sey, " You can't miss her in a crowd, she shine like a star." She even tell me where to find you." She say, "North west of the steeple, near your vicinity. According to her directions, that would be the church." That dread waited for me every morning outside the church and saw me safely home in the evening time.

On the days of my accidents, my Granny gave visions to even the Policemen to come to my aid. I didn't call them and neither did anyone else. They showed up, saying that some old lady told them "Rush down the road, dem trying to kill mi grand child!!!" Police, Firemen and Ambulance drivers all came. I was ambushed in a remote part of town. No one would have probably came to my aid. But, Granny sent them though. No one could ever confirm the whereabouts of this old lady. She disappeared.

Do you believe in the dead from the other side?Let's just say Granny called in one of her many favours from the grave. Like a poker player at the crap table, she called in her markers. Granny used her reciprocity contract at the nearby cemetery. You see, both my accidents occurred near cemeteries. While my Granny was busy calling for help, my dead cousin pulled me from the smoking vehicles. The cemeteries were only short distances from where I lay bleeding like a pig in the middle of the street.

Some may say, that this is Jamaican-Caribbean- mumbo-jumbo, but it is a fact! Recently, I consulted the Ouija Board and asked Granny if there is justice to come. I waited almost 12 hours before I got an answer. This time I heard her voice, She said, "Dem gwey keep trying, but tell them, that there will be weeping and gnashing of their teeth. Because God is about to dole out his brand of justice."

Did I ever tell you that my Granny sometimes referred to God as "The Godfather?" Surprise! Surprise! Even Granny was a fan of the mob. The God Mob that is........

*"Toon-Toon" Old Jamaican name for the female organ.

Thank you Granny and MM.