Monarchy

I dodged a monarch butterfly while walking the dog this evening. As it was flying towards my head I noticed just how large it was. I didn't move out of its way fast enough and his wing grazed my check. It put a smile on my face and gave the dog an excited bounce in her step.

Butterflies were a favorite metaphor used by my father in long lectures to my preteen self. The story has it that when I was 7 we vacationed in Michigan. I spent the majority of my time chasing butterflies on the beach. In all my anxious trapping abilities that suburban kids can posses I was never able to catch one. I fell asleep on my towel and forgot about all things beautiful and fluttering. When I woke I found nearly a colony were perched on my belly and feet.

My father than interjected whatever "thing" I was striving for as the butterfly and suggested if I were patient and stopped mindlessly chasing "things" that it would come to me. Besides, chasing "things" that didn't truly belong to me was a waste of energy that could be used to love what you currently have.

So, now I'm dodging butterflies. I wonder what my father would say about that.