in the 'inbetween' state my mother inhabited. she was (thankfully) pain free. she drifted into an almost dream like state where she began verbally engaging in entirely lucid conversations with friends and family who had passed. the conversations sounded exactly like the ones i overheard as a child going back 40 years earlier when 'get togethers' were planned. there were discussions of food to serve (and whose recipie for a certain dish would be used), indivdual attendees personal likes, and HOW MUCH my mom was looking forward to 'everyone getting together again-it's been waaaaaay to long'. by all appearances it was a two way conversation-she would **** her ear and then respond to questions only she heard. some must have been about others still alive and healthy b/c she would reply 'oh no, she won't be there-it's much too soon but someday'. she would laugh at unheard jokes, giggle and tell childhood schoolyard dust ups they had gotten into, tear up when she 'heard' about some long passed family friend who would be attending remarking 'i've missed you all for so long'. her voice was stronger, her manner happier, her entire body seemed to glow.