The Butterfly Release Memorial

On July 15, six months after the unexpected death of my granddaughter Kayla, I hosted a butterfly release memorial at our camp site which is only a few miles from my home. Fifty Painted Lady butterflies were released and memories of Kayla were shared.  Approximately sixty-two family and friends were in attendance. 

Butterflies are deep and powerful representations of life. Butterflies are beautiful and have mystery, symbolism, and meaning and are a metaphor representing spiritual rebirth, transformation, change, hope, and life. The magnificent, yet short life of the butterfly closely mirrors the process of spiritual transformation and serves to remind us that life is short.

I picked a lot of flowers, mostly zinnias, from my garden the morning of the memorial and passed them out to folks before the memorial. I was hoping the butterflies might land on a few before they took off.

 I gave a little talk about Kayla and then gave some fun facts about Painted Lady butterflies. 

Great uncle, great aunt, aunt, second cousins, friends...

...aunts, second cousins, friends, great aunts and uncles...

...the latest generation...

...cousins, friends...

...multiple generations...

My granddaughter, Isabelle, who is five weeks older than Kayla, released one box of 25 butterflies and had one that lingered in the box for awhile. My daughter-in-law Linda, Kayla's mom, released the other box. 

Isabelle also made a charcoal sketch of Kayla and presented it to Linda. 

One of the Painted Ladies sat on the ground for awhile soaking up the sun. My great nephew who is normally a pretty wild and crazy four year old guy, oh so carefully and gently coaxed the butterfly on to his flower. A great niece wanted a butterfly for her flower...

...so she and one of the three year old twin great nieces went in search of butterflies. 

After the butterfly release everyone was invited to enjoy a picnic type meal. I prepared all of the food - ham sandwiches, mac and cheese, baked beans, potato salad, marinated cukes and onions, jello with fruit cocktail. And for dessert...apple crisp and peach cobbler.   I had planned food for 50 people and although we had approximately 62 people in attendance a lot of those were kids. I didn't run out of food and I didn't have many leftovers. 

I am Not There

Do not stand by my grave and weep

For I am not there.

I do not sleep.

I am a thousand winds that blow.

I am diamonds that glint on snow.

I am the sunlight on ripened grain.

I am the gentle autumn rain.

When you awaken in the morning hush

I am the swift uplifting rush of butterflies in joyous flight.

I am the soft stars that shine at night.

Do not stand at my grave and cry.

I am not there.

I did not die.

...Clare Harner Lyon, 1934

And now I'm home again, home again, jiggety jig.