The following Saturday night, I am shivering with hundreds of others in a church parking lot in Tucson. A 16-passenger van that will transport us three miles to a resort is delayed in traffic.

"Some of us paid hundreds of dollars for these tickets," a middle-aged woman snaps.

"No one is worth this kind of wait," grumbles a gray-haired man.

Thousands of people who flock to similar sold-out events across the country nearly every weekend would beg to differ. They endure crowds, traffic jams and scalpers' prices for a chance to chat with dead people. More specifically, for an opportunity to be in the same room with someone who might help them do that.

James Van Praagh and John Edward -- the two psychics who went to Scottsdale and Tucson, respectively -- are appealing to a burgeoning population of fans. Public opinion polls show a dramatic increase in the number of Americans who think it's possible to communicate with the dead. And it's easier than ever to become a believer.

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