(Submitted by Sherry in Washington)
The joyous day of my nephew Brian’s wedding had arrived. The heavy meaning of new lives beginning and those departed was on the forefront of my mind. Brian had met the perfect girl just two years earlier and my sister knew it. Back then, she quietly said to family members “I wonder if they will get married?” I’m sure she was at the ceremony though I didn’t think to look for signs.
In planning for travel accommodations, I thought it would be great for the immediate family to stay together. Arrangements were made and the house worked perfectly.
The morning after the wedding I was up early, as was my brother-in-law, the father of the groom. The sweet aroma of coffee and the morning sun were runners-up to just being together and thinking of my sister and how wonderful it was to be under one roof. We sat out on the deck with coffee and my younger nephew Robert came out.
I had never seen a Monarch butterfly, or any butterfly, so large in my life! It came from behind my brother-in-law flying very close to him. Traveling toward me and right in front of my face, I knew what it meant as the butterfly turned to kiss Robert’s face and fly away. I kept quiet at the time, but I knew. For some reason, I knew it was my sister Pam. I can’t explain why. I just knew. That was her first appearance. There have been others. I hope to meet again.
