More about my butterfly illustrations can be found at this link: https://foodartist.wordpress.com/2010/08/15/31-winging-these-illustrations/

It was a beautiful spring day and I looked forward to going out to breakfast with my dear friend Miriam. I never wanted to let too much time go by without seeing her. She had been my late mother’s caregiver and she had also taken care of my father. Even though it was almost five years since my mother died, she and I would always remain connected.

Miriam knocked on my apartment door; we hugged tightly and began chatting away. I told her I was taking her to a new restaurant and treating her for her birthday.

We sat outside on the patio of a lovely cafe and appreciated the cool weather. We were enjoying our food and conversation when I noticed the woman at the next table was staring at me. I smiled at her and she said, “You are very beautiful.”

I blushed and thanked her. I wasn’t used to hearing that as a 57-year-old woman! Miriam bubbled words of agreement. I was embarrassed but thought, “What a nice day I’m having!”

The woman’s name was Teddy and she wanted to explain what she noticed about me. “You have a light that shines from you. It is very powerful,” she said.

We began to converse across our tables. It amazed me how easy it was to chat about personal things with a complete stranger. I even felt goose bumps on my arms when Teddy shared about her brother’s death. Miriam had a lot of experience with hospice and there were many deep things we talked about easily.

It turned out that Teddy was a successful model from Tanzania, Africa.

Perhaps this was enough for me to write a story. But what happened next seemed almost surreal.

I was savoring my food in the fresh air and Miriam continued chatting with our new friend across our table. Suddenly, the restaurant door opened and a pretty blond woman with a young boy walked right over to me.

This woman touched my arm and said, “I was inside the restaurant watching you. You are a very special person. I couldn’t stop looking your way and had to come over to tell you.”

“I’m very honored,” I told her. I couldn’t believe it!

She said she was a hospice nurse. Miriam and I looked at each other. She talked about where she worked with Miriam and then she looked at me and said, “A very good friend of mine died last night.

“I’m so sorry,” I said.

She continued, “My friend told me to look for a sign. She loved butterflies, especially blue ones. I noticed your earrings right away. I believe you are a sign to me that she’s alright.”

At first, I didn’t know what to say.  Then I said, “That’s amazing because I love butterflies – they represent transformation in many different ways. Butterflies are a great metaphor for grief and healing.”

After that, I shared how much I loved the music that healed me. More than anything, I was uplifted if I could comfort other people with my gentle songs.

We talked a few minutes longer about music. “I have a lot of music at my website that I’d love to share with you. Here’s my card,” I said.

I handed her my card and she gasped – my card had a blue butterfly.

Before she left she asked, “Would it be okay if I took a picture of you and your earrings?”

I posed and Miriam took a few pictures.

I hugged her and felt completely inspired.

Miriam and I were bubbling as we left the restaurant. There just weren’t enough words to describe what had happened.

I decided that the music from my heart was my light.

On this beautiful day, it certainly shined brightly.

Miriam had fun taking some selfies of us in her car afterwards.