Still Together

This past week Ty traveled to Georgia to hike the southern portion of the Appalachian Trail.  He and his daughter Susan always said they wanted to hike it together, but Susan was killed by lightning before they accomplished that dream.  While hiking in Virginia recently and thinking of Susan, he distinctly felt two fingers touch his right arm.  It was so real that he turned to his right to see who was beside him, but no one appeared to be there.  He had such a knowing that Susan had done this, that he had to sit down and gather his wits.

Three days into his Appalachian Trail hike this week he came across a mother and daughter at a mountain top view point.  When he got a cell phone signal he called to tell me that the young girl he met was Susan’s twin.  What startled him most of all was that the girl said, “Oh, you just missed a beautiful yellow butterfly that flew by just a few minutes ago.”  Those of you who have read my book, “Messages of Hope” will know that Susan sent us several memorable moments with yellow butterflies in the week after her funeral that left no doubt in our mind that she is still with us.  Ty told me that he took the girl’s picture and hiked off.  Three minutes later a yellow butterfly flew within arm’s reach of him.  It was the only butterfly he saw in four days and forty miles of hiking.

He just arrived home, and the first thing we did was look at the photo he took of the young girl.  My mouth fell open when I saw it.  Not only was he correct that she is Susan’s twin, but her pose in the photo is identical to one of the photos we have of Susan.  Ty was not thinking of that photo when he shot this picture, but what is striking to me is that the photo it resembles is one I chose to do a pencil drawing of Susan.  At the time, I then pasted yellow butterflies over it, as you can see in the comparison shots here.  Look at the similarities:  same over-the-shoulder pose, same close-mouthed sweet smile, same trees and leaves background.  It’s almost eerie, but the message is clear:  “I’m right here with you, Dad.  Love never dies.