Butterflies

Little sweetheart, as the season comes to a close turning to autumn, I've been savoring the last sights and scents and sounds. 

One of the loveliest of them all has been the proliferation of butterflies these last few months and it always makes me think of you, feel your celestial presence near me. 

There's a very pretty spot along where I run in Riverside Park. It's the little 91st Street Gardens. Often I'll go for a walk up there or start my run even father up to get in my miles so I can come walk and linger there, looking for the magical creatures. 

One of the most recognizable of all butterflies is the orange and black beauty called the "Monarch". They're famous for the epic journey they make each year from the Brazilian rain forest all the way to southern Canada. Sadly, over the last decade or so they've become endangered by climate change. Your mom and I watched a documentary about the monarch's migration about a year ago and one of the things they said would help bring them back is milkweed. Monarchs love milkweed, apparently. So, your mom planted some at both houses. 

And here in the park up by those gardens I've seen three or four or five of the little beauties almost every day. Also, a black swallowtail, of late. 

It always brings me close to you, little sweetheart, to stop and watch and gently talk to them. I know you are so much closer than I can even imagine and these pretty winged ones help always to remind me. 

With all my love forever.