Clare Henney: Butterfly Kisses

Two years. Wow. Time flies by so fast. I can’t believe it’s been that long now. Sometimes I wonder what it would’ve been like if he was still here. What he would have told me when I needed advice or what he would have done at moments that I have shared with the rest of the family.

I miss how he loved to annoy us with his never-ending questions, even if at the end of it all he actually knew the answers.

I miss his cooking.  I miss having him come over to make me taste what he was whipping up in the kitchen. I miss how no matter what I needed to fix or setup, he’d always be ready and willing to help — or do everything himself.  He didn’t love McGyver for nothing! I miss how funny he is.  I miss goofing around with him and the rest of the family.  I remember one moment when he called me to the living room and I found him and my sisters lying on their backs on the floor and everyone trying to squeeze into the frame of the camera he was holding up in the air as he motioned for me to join them.  I remember we were laughing like crazy at that moment.  I loved that. I miss how he bugged me and my sisters to sing better.  I miss hearing him sing because he is a really good singer himself.  I miss sharing my love for music, art and movies with him.  I miss debating about contestants on American Idol with him.

Years ago, I remember a conversation I had with my father about how one day, he would sing at my wedding.  He asked me what song I wanted.  I told him Bob Carlisle’s Butterfly Kisses.  I remember that same afternoon he went online to look for the lyrics and I heard him singing and learning the melody.  I thought that was really touching. Today, whenever I hear or even think of that song, it brings tears to my eyes because I remember our conversation and how I would never get my wish to hear him sing that to me on my wedding day (whenever that is).

I miss you Papa.  I really do.  Butterfly kisses to you.