Well Bradders--you deserve congratulations on a great job of managing Paula´s life while she was with you. You made it as comfortable as was possible. Chapeau!
I've got a little butterfly story (nothing as touching as Paula's though). When Hubby & I were first dating, we used to go to this park by the coast and just hang out watching the boats go by, etc. One time when we drove up, we noticed a poor little butterfly laying on the hot asphalt, evidently with not much time left. So we picked it up and placed it on the grass in the shade so it could be a little more comfortable. We went about our day and when we returned to the truck... about where the butterfly had been laying... there was this little plastic toy butterfly! We both knew it was not there when we parked! We just couldn't figure out where it came from. It didn't fall out of our truck... no one had parked next to us. Baffled... and amazed at our find... we picked up the little toy butterfly and put in the truck. We told several people about this and they all thought we were nuts or drunk! I kept that little butterfly for a couple of years... until I wrecked the truck and it got lost.
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