Bluestar and awakenings --- Thank you for your responses.
Bluestar --- You've had some very interesting experiences. For that matter, so has your friend! It would freak me out, too, to have such an experience while meditating. However, at the same time I'm in awe of her experience!
As for the smells in your home --- occasionally, I will pick up smells in the house and wonder where they came from. It has me wondering if they are related to the man I've heard speaking...