Dreamland is dedicated to my mother, so it was special to incorporate Mourning Cloak in the storyline. My mother passed away in early March on a Monday evening several years ago. After a rather harrowing week of dealing with all the things one deals with in a time like that, by the following Sunday, I needed some peace and quiet time for myself. I felt that I needed to sit for awhile in a setting with running water, such as near a creek. I live in Albuquerque, New Mexico, so finding a place within the city that fit that bill was tricky. I settled on spending some time that afternoon at our local Botanic Gardens, where there is a Japanese garden with a waterfall. I mentioned my intention to my husband, and he noted that there would probably be a lot of people since it was a weekend, and it might be quieter on a weekday. However, I felt very drawn to go that afternoon. So off I went. I found a rock to sit on at the end of a short trail around the pond to where the waterfall is. I probably spent an hour or so sitting there thinking about my mom and saying good-bye. My husband was right; it was a little busy and several groups had come by my spot on the trail and at one point the sounds from the people got on my nerves, and it was time to move on. But I still wanted to be by running water. I knew of another spot where there was a little bridge over a small running stream, so I headed down the walkway to that spot. Along the way I noticed a butterfly hovering over me. I was a little surprised since it was so early in the year yet, but the butterfly was persistent and stayed with me for a while as I wandered down the path. It eventually lit on a nearby tree where it stayed for quite some time. I stopped and watched it for 10 or 15 minutes, taking some photos and videos. As I continued along my way, I realized a peace had come over me through that experience. I spent a little more time there by the stream and in the gardens and then headed home where I shared my experience with my husband. He was in disbelief that I would have seen a butterfly so early in the year. I showed him my photos to prove it, and he still couldn’t believe it! My husband has worked outdoors all his life and is well versed on species of birds, insects, etc., but he was a bit stumped on what type of butterfly it was, so we looked it up in his field guide and learned that it was a Mourning Cloak. This sent a chill up both our spines. Upon further researching, I learned the butterfly was so named because its coloring and shape look like a type of ancient garment once used for mourning the loss of a loved one. I saw it as though the butterfly was supplying me with a cloak of peace in my own mourning and was certainly a sign from God that everything was going to be OK. Both with my mother, and with me, especially with some of the stresses and feelings I had been experiencing. To put the final seal on this experience, I also learned in my research that this butterfly is the state butterfly of Montana, which is where my mother was born and now rests.