Butterflies

The butterfly counts not months but moments,

and has time enough. 

~Rabindranath Tagore

     The little girl noticed through sleep filled eye's, how soft her MomMa's cheek looked as she snuggled there against her, as her own still heavy head came back to rest on her MomMa's shoulder. Movement causing little eyes finally to be scrunching closed against the bright sunlight of the early morning.
     Reaching up to gently trace a miniature finger across MomMa's skin, until finally one tiny hand came to rest gently against MomMa's cheek. Suddenly up flew the other to fully capture her intire attention as her little nose pressed smack dab onto MomMa's, where bold blue eyes pierced clear through to her MomMa's heart. She announced in reverenced tones, "MomMa! You have butterfly kisses right there!"

"I do? Where do you see them Baby?"

"On-a you cheeks MomMa. Can you feel dem?"

"No Baby, I can't feel them yet."

"Here I show you where!"

     Little eye's darted low with intent, as an all out butterfly kissing assault commenced against her MomMa's cheek. It began by fluttering those long lashes randomly across one cheek then up to start trailing across the tip of her nose and on to the other side. She sang out, "Can~a you feel dem now?"

     MomMa's eye's filled with sudden pools of love as the stress breaking smile broke across her features until finally reaching her voice box, "Oh yes Baby! I do!"
    
     They stood, probably a little longer than the single mother had time for, tickling, kissing and laughing happily together into the beginnings of their day.


     That night as they were tucking into bed the little girl touched her MomMa's cheek and asked again, "MomMa? Can you still feel the butterfly kisses right here?"

"Oh Baby, I felt them all day, but now that it's bed time they seem to have gone to sleep too. Should we find more tomorrow?"

     Turing her little face up, eye's closing in Summer exhaustion, she seriously stated, "No MomMa, I think we should gader dem up and put dem on our noses to fweep."

     She gently drifted off to sleep as her MomMa did just that.

May the wings of the butterfly kiss the sun
And find your shoulder to light on,
To bring you luck, happiness and riches
Today, tomorrow and beyond.

~Irish Blessing