Ah, sweet relief. This morning the humidity has loosened its grip just a tad and I actually have the windows open. What a treat! Fresh cool air is wafting in the patio door here beside me and once the air meets the fan it swirls around me in the most delightful way. I'm lovin' it
The humidex was in the 40's yesterday, so we stayed put in our air conditioned house and packed boxes. I am happy to report that we have finished the storage room/den area and that feels like a major accomplishment. Next, the basement, but not today, for today we dust off the bikes and head out for a ride. The winds are light and the air cool, so a ride out to the lake is number one on the agenda.
We last rode to the lake on Sunday and at one point we pedalled past a Strawberry field. Oh, I could almost taste the fresh picked wonders because the smell of them was so thick in the air. I had to fight with my bike not to veer off the path and plunge right into that field so I could feast on the bright red gems.
Further along the path we kept being assaulted by the thick rich fragrance of lilacs, but I knew the fragrance wasn't from lilacs because they were all done for the season. I looked around and could see plenty of wildflowers, and wondered which one was imitating the lilac. I soon had the answer to my question, and it had nothing to do with recognizing a flower, and everything to do with seeing a butterfly. Yes, I had a butterfly flit around my head and almost land on my shoulder as I pedalled along. What a gift. The Monarchs are back and that means the Milkweed must be blooming. I couldn't see any, but I could sure smell them. What a beautiful combination- butterflies, the fragrance of Milkweed and a ride out to the lake.
Happiness is as a butterfly which, when pursued, is always beyond our grasp, but which if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you.
Nathaniel Hawthorne
He who binds to himself a joy
does the winged life destroy
but he who kisses the joy as it flies
lives in Eternity's sun rise.
William Blake
Whatever you are busy doing these days I hope you find time, or take time, to sit quietly and let happiness alight upon you, and you kiss the joy as it flies.
2 comments:
Lovely post, Cuppa. Butterflies have always been a bit of a symbol for me - of my son Matthew. When I was in the hospital hoping he'd be born alive, my friend gave me an article about a woman who wrote about how butterflies always visited her in times of grief and hardship to offer her hope. Wouldn't you know, just after reading that, a butterfly flew up to my fifth floor hospital window. And another one visited me the next day as I sat in my wheelchair in the playground across the street watching my kids. Then after Matthew died, they kept visiting at appropriate moments. The best was the following Mother's Day when we were having lunch outside and a butterfly kept landing on the heads of all our family.
Nature is amazing isn't it?
I think of you and your dad whenever I see dandelions and now I will think of your Matthew when I see a butterfly. Thanks for sharing that story with me.
How neat that the butterfly visited each member of your family on Mother's Day.
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