Dance of the Butterflies

[icnmgrjill]

This weekend, we had a garage sale and near the very end, as we were putting things away, we began to notice butterflies flying up our street and over our house. Just little flitters of wings... first one, then two, then a dozen... waves and waves of butterflies. We counted hundreds of painted ladies.... small versions of the Monarch... headed southwest towards the coast.

It was the most amazing, beautiful and peaceful sight. Many were alone on their journey, darting through the sky and over the rooftops as if they had an urgent need to get from here to there. Pairs of butterflies playfully batted wings around each other, as if they are having a nice chatter on their way west. There were big groups too! Threes, fours and fives... flying shoulder heighth.. then somehow darting over our heads and our houses. You could even hear a soft flutter of wings for those that came within inches of our heads.

Just imagine waves and waves of butterflies! Ohhh... what a gift. In my fathers 82 years, he'd never seen such a sight. I certainly haven't either. But, for just that hour, as my father and I leaned against our car and watched the butterflies, it was magical!

We're still seeing them today... flying over my office. An amazing migration of butterflies!

Here's a newstory link on it: http://www.davisenterprise.com/articles/2005/03/29/news/277new1.txt

Jill :)

[Janie Miranda]

Sounds lovely, Jill! My 3 year old daughter would have been in heaven - her favorite activity this spring is running after butterflies!
jane

[SharonA]

Oh Jill...

Your description of all the butterflies brought back such wonderful memories of seeing the migration of the Monarchs when I lived in the Central Valley of California. Every year, we would look forward to seeing them and hoping at least one of them would decide to grace us with a personal, upclose visit. Sometimes landing on our shoulders...sometimes just fluttering around our heads. Oh what a glorious sight, indeed.

Thank you for reminding me. Those memories make me feel happy. :)

[Babs RN]

Jill,
We have lots out here in the high desert as well as the unusual tapestry of flowers.

Barb

[Sarojini]

Jill, this was wonderful.... brings me back to hiking with a special former flame in the mountains near the southern coast around Malibu when I was in grad school. This happened as we hiked up the mountain. Waves of butterflies came fluttering on by, a few landed on my head and shoulders for just a few seconds' rest... I looked around and there were the butterflies, and below a gorgeous view of the Pacific on a perfectly sunny day.

[Dixiefireball]

That sounds so sweet. a specail moment between daughter and father and what a lovely site to enjoy.
Rhonda

[blondiecat]

I bet that was a glorious site to have seen. It's too bad you didn't have a camera around so you could take some photos of them.

[Kathi]

I have a bedroom done in butterflies. I would have loved to have seen that, it truly must have been awesome. Smiles, Kathi

[Amyinagony]

What a wonderful story!!! Thanks for sharing it, Jill.

I was thinking of sort of a parable to that story. Relating it (the butterflies) to how often WE can be (or feel) so alone (flying by ourselves) at times with this disease, but when we come together here (to this message board) we are not alone, we are flying with some of our own group of butterflies.
(Wish we had a butterfly icon...it would be right here) :)

[Betsie]

Jill,

I was thinking what an awesome moment between a daughter and her Dad. Usually at 82, it has become difficult to delight in much, but I can picture you and your Dad leaning there looking in awe at butterflies.

I imagine he is tickled to reflect on that moment. {{{Hugs******

[hisjenn]

what a beautiful moment... thank you for sharing *smiles*