White Butterflies
"I think this is a sign!"
Since the semester’s started a white butterfly has passed by me every few days. I didn’t give it much thought in the early weeks of the semester, but the more I thought about it the more I realized when and where specifically these butterflies would pass by me. It was always walking to class or back to my dorm and always during moments that I never felt my best.
My grandpa used to be a speechwriter for the Philippine military during the WWII era. He would research things about the enemy, happenings around the country, and put it into a speech for whoever the head honcho was that day. It’s similar to what I’m doing at school right now. Researching the news and writing up a neat little reader for the anchor to present on air. Also like me, he went to school for journalism.
I never really knew him. He died before I was born. My family would recall him being strict back in the Philippines and how that didn’t change much as he grew old. Ultimately, he died just before he could see his first grandchild: me. None of his children went into the media like he did. They all did what they could to make it out of the Philippines to America.
The first thing my family told me when I said I was going to school for what I’m doing is that I’m going the path of my lolo. I didn’t know he was also a journalist, but it was cool that we’re going back to the basics now. I didn’t give it much thought until these past few weeks.
Whenever I’m down, I wonder what my lolo would think of me if he knew what I was doing. I’m a semi-successful DJ, a hard-working student, and a leader to people. I’m sure he’d be proud of me, but then there’s the part that I wonder if he’d still see me the same if he knew who I liked.
I don’t like to think of that whenever I see a white butterfly. They were a sign that I was on the right path and to keep going, even if it seems scary. I think it’s his way of looking out for me and making sure I take care of myself. He knows what it’s like being a creative, so I take his advice.
Bye bye little butterfly.
You’re reading an archived piece from a previous incarnation of this blog. To keep up with more short-form and long-form writing, subscribe to “A Thousand Plus One” here on Substack.