The Butterfly.

[kentuck]

I do believe that this world is connected by threads that are beyond our comprehension or understanding. It can be very disturbing and depressing when someone we know takes their own life. This afternoon I went to view the body of a lovely neighbor. She was a teacher of young children. I do not know all the details of her death. She was a very intelligent and lovely person.

This was the same day, Monday morning, as I was standing in my garden, that I saw my first large yellow and black butterfly of the year. (a Monarch?) It almost startled me as it zoomed by me and was gone. I was in awe. Then I had to go to work, which is about a ten-mile drive one way.

Since I only work part-time, I got out of work before noon. As I exited the building and was on my way to my car, I was surprised as a large yellow and black butterfly flew over my head. What a coincidence, I thought. It looks just like the one I saw in my garden this morning! That's two in one day.

It was Monday evening, at dusk, when we noticed the police car and the ambulance down the street in front of her home. Our nearest neighbor told us that she had died. It was shocking. We did not know any details at the time.

So today I come home from work and get ready to go and see her and pay our last respects. I have a little time while I am waiting for my wife to come home so I turn on the sprinkler on my small garden. It's been a very poor garden this year - although I do have dozens and dozens of beautiful morning glories.

As we close the front door and get ready to go and view her body, I remember that I have to turn off the water to the sprinkler in the garden. I open the side gate and go around the side of the house to turn off the water. I am surprised as I turn the corner. A large yellow and black butterfly, just like the others, flies directly in front of me, from right to left, and is gone.

.

[No Elephants]

1. Sad event, lovely essay.

my condolences.

[Sal Minella]

2. If you google "zebra swallowtail" I suspect you'll see your friend?

Monarchs are orange and black, Zebra Swallowtails bright yellow and black.

I'm sorry about your grieving, but so glad that you notice the beautiful things around you.

[No Elephants]

3. How are you doing now, Kentuck?

[kentuck]

4. I'm doing well.

Thanks for asking. It affected all of our neighbors that knew her as well. It's always seems more sad when something like this happens.

[No Elephants]

5. Glad to hear you are finding your equilibrium. I bet the butterfly helped with that.

Unfortunately, Bob Dylan nailed it:

He not busy born is busy dying.

Or, as I put it less poetically, live birth is terminal.

We can do nothing about that, except maybe postpone the inevitable--and that is very neat, while it lasts.

But sooner or later.....

Hopefully, we use that morbid bit of knowledge to live lives that have meaning while we have that luxury.

From your OP, I gather your neighbor did that.

I hope she rests well.