Tug at my heart....Tear in my eye

November is National Hospice Month

There was a teacher at our local elementary school who loved teaching the children and sharing her love of nature with them. She died of cancer. Through donations and a grant a butterfly garden was created in her memory at the school. Today it was offically dedicated and I went.

The garden is lovely with it's plants and pathway. It was decorated with butterfly balloons and cut outs. The head of Hospice was there,the children sang and signed 4 songs,the winners of a butterfly coloring contest were announced and a red butterfly bush was planted. At the end dozens of monarch butterflies in a basket were released. Hospice says a butterfly released is the soul of a loved one soaring free. It was wonderful to see them all flying in and around the garden!

This dedication really touched me. In 1986 my infant son died. When I spread his ashes to the wind I picked a flower growing there. As I turned to walk back to my car a butterfly landed on it and stayed until I had gotten back to my car....and then it soared off free.

Ginger...I have heard of a lot of "Butterfly" experiences involving a deceased love one...and I know first hand how wonderful Hospice is!! They are a special breed of medical people. Thank you for brigning this up to our attention. Jo

You're welcome.
In the spring I think I'll take some zinneas...if the seeds I've collected grow...so the children can plant them. My 2 grandsons go to this school.

I didn't realize November was National Hospice Month. Hospice was wonderful to my Mom when she was dying last spring. They really helped to hold my niece and I together while we cared for her too.

What a touching story. I didn't know about the butterflies.

The following is a poem my husband wrote July 2004 after comming in from a morning run. He sent this to all my nieces and nephews. You see...my mother passed away on May 1 of this year after a 3 month battle with a malignant brain tumor. I had originally posted this in the butterfly forum...but just had to share it here as well. My brother also had an experience with a butterfly shortly after our mother passed over. One morning as he went to get into his truck he noticed a butterfly inside the cab. He watched it and wondered how it had gotten in his cab...and eventually let it out. Latter he found out that my husband had written the poem about his experience with the butterfly. Then this summer as I was out gardening, a butterfly came close to me and each time I would try to reach out and touch it...it would fly off just out of my reach. At the time I felt it was a message from my mother....saying she was okay.

Thank you for letting me share and remember this experience.

I had a visit today from your grandmother. As I was coming in on a run this morning on the gravel road west of our place, amidst the quiet and solitude of the country, a monarch butterfly came just over my shoulder and flew directly in front of me. I reached out thinking it was a bee or wasp and touched the swallow tail of the little thing, and it flew out in front of me for a moment then drifted off back to the pasture. I instantly felt this was your Grandma appearing as she said she would be everywhere. I felt like writing about this for some reason and so have attached the poem I wrote just now.

The Butterfly

I had a visit today
From someone far away
She did not speak
And could not stay.


It was in the morning sun
As I was completing my short run
She surprised me a little
With the brief visit which was soon done.


Silently she spoke to me
Just brushing my shoulder then to flee
Startled I reached out and touched her
But she was aflight and free.


She only stopped to wish me well
And I feel for others to tell
Letting us know she is still there
And is only gone for just a spell.

July 2004

How beautiful!! Thank you for sharing this. Jo

What a lovely, sad and inspirational thread. There are no words to really express the comfort,.love and nurturing that Hospice provided for myself and my family when our needs were so great. In the space of a year I lost my best friend from childhood, my mother and my husband. Being surrounded by the warmth and careing of my Hospice family made the final months of each a sad but bearable time. What a blessing they are.
Pati

Thanks all for sharing your memories and butterfly stories/poem. Gotta go get another kleenex. XOXO