by LindaD » Fri Apr 20, 2007 11:39 am
Bob,
Thank you for “Elusive Butterfly”. In 1963, I met the love of my life. My parents did not approve. Three years later, my parents decided to move away from Jacksonville, FL to Louisiana. Before we left, he told me that one day he would find me, “even in Louisiana”.
After we arrived in Louisiana, I received one letter from him. He closed the very short letter with, PS I love you. We moved two more times in the next two years. Of course, this was pre-computer, pre-email, pre-cable, and pre-hope of ever finding people who moved out of your life.
Your song, “Elusive Butterfly” carried me through those early teen years. Then, 11 years later, I was lying in bed one morning when I heard the tragic news...several members of a rock group en-route to a concert in Baton Rouge, LA were killed in an airplane crash. Bob, the young boy I fell in love with on the banks of a Florida canal was dead.
I cannot tell you the pain I suffered. However, eventually, I understood the miracle in his death. At that time, 1977, I did not listen to rock music. I had never heard of his band. I knew he sang at teen dances in Jacksonville, but we were kids then. Two years prior to the crash, in Houston, TX I read a tiny article in Rolling Stone. When I saw his name as lead singer of a group sweeping England, my immediate reaction was, “wouldn’t he get the big head to see a rock star with the same name”? I never dreamed it was he. Then, the news that morning was on a country western station. If his band had not been en-route to Baton Rouge (only 1 1/2 hours from my home), it is unlikely the small CW radio station would have carried the news.
So, Bob, as he promised, he found me...it was in his death, but he did find me.
“Elusive Butterfly” continued to strengthen me for many years…not just the lyrics, but also the beautiful gentle melody. A few years ago, I went back to Jacksonville, visited some of his family and his grave, and found answers for many of my questions.
Thank you again, Bob. Even today, when I listened to your song on the web, I could feel those same bittersweet memories of first love.
Bob,
Thank you for “Elusive Butterfly”. In 1963, I met the love of my life. My parents did not approve. Three years later, my parents decided to move away from Jacksonville, FL to Louisiana. Before we left, he told me that one day he would find me, “even in Louisiana”.
After we arrived in Louisiana, I received one letter from him. He closed the very short letter with, PS I love you. We moved two more times in the next two years. Of course, this was pre-computer, pre-email, pre-cable, and pre-hope of ever finding people who moved out of your life.
Your song, “Elusive Butterfly” carried me through those early teen years. Then, 11 years later, I was lying in bed one morning when I heard the tragic news...several members of a rock group en-route to a concert in Baton Rouge, LA were killed in an airplane crash. Bob, the young boy I fell in love with on the banks of a Florida canal was dead.
I cannot tell you the pain I suffered. However, eventually, I understood the miracle in his death. At that time, 1977, I did not listen to rock music. I had never heard of his band. I knew he sang at teen dances in Jacksonville, but we were kids then. Two years prior to the crash, in Houston, TX I read a tiny article in Rolling Stone. When I saw his name as lead singer of a group sweeping England, my immediate reaction was, “wouldn’t he get the big head to see a rock star with the same name”? I never dreamed it was he. Then, the news that morning was on a country western station. If his band had not been en-route to Baton Rouge (only 1 1/2 hours from my home), it is unlikely the small CW radio station would have carried the news.
So, Bob, as he promised, he found me...it was in his death, but he did find me.
“Elusive Butterfly” continued to strengthen me for many years…not just the lyrics, but also the beautiful gentle melody. A few years ago, I went back to Jacksonville, visited some of his family and his grave, and found answers for many of my questions.
Thank you again, Bob. Even today, when I listened to your song on the web, I could feel those same bittersweet memories of first love.