Seeing an opportunity to show baby girl something new, I took her out front and knelt down to get closer. The butterfly was standing in the street part of the parking lot out front of S*bux. At first I thought it might be injured but it seemed ok...just checking out what looked like part of a of a flower on the gravely drive with it's proboscis - that's their extra little feeler they have out front.
Anyway, it let me touch it's wing, and I could have picked it up but, I didn't. I showed baby girl, and she was fascinated for a moment and then like a typical 14 month old she was on to something else pretty fast.
Ok so, we go back inside. All I wanted to do was go back out, pick up the butterfly, and set it on nearby bushes. Hubby was filling out the application so, I didn't want to leave him in chanrge of the girl just then. So, I waited.
While I waited ... in what seemed like slow motion in the direction of the S*bux ... came a Lexus SUV. Lumbering slowly ... and not even stopping at the well placed and visible stop sign across from the S*bux store front, came the SUV. The vehicle passed thru the stop, and as the driver maneuvered his SUV, the front passenger tire ran right over that pretty butterfly I had just shown my daughter, and had instinctively knew I should've gone out to move it from the ground.
The butterfly shuttered it's wings one more time, and stopped.
According to my husband, I gasped so loud the whole coffee shop heard me. But I couldn't help it!
It was both poetic, and just a wee bit horrifying to watch happen. And at the same time, it was just a silly insect, too.
I also couldn't help but almost immediately see the parallel between this gorgeous butterfly being squashed by a shiny white with gold trimmed SUV, and how the middle class has been run down by partisan policies and politics over the last nearly 10 years.
No, I'm not a "Mama for Obama". And "yes", as a matter of fact I did vote for Gdub ... but that doesn't mean I can't see the huge ice berg that's sliced down the side of our little tug boat, or that I'm as dense as a box of rocks and sand.
If by chance Obama does become my next Commander In Chief, I will hold him to the promises he's made to the United States of America. Especially the ones he's made to my daughter and my future grand children.
The same goes for McCain. Look out, buddy, your switchboard will be lit up with my calls and messages if this becomes another 4 years of the fat getting fatter on the little guy's hard work, and if we waste millions of more dollars and gallons of blood fighting in a country that did NOT attack us on September 11, 2001.
Who ever it will be ... please don't crush my butterfly!
Pipevine SwallowtailBattus philenor (Linnaeus, 1771)
2 comments:
Well said! Thanks for sharing your moment of epiphany with us.
This story about the butterfly is quite touching. Some would say chill out it's only an insect. Well, yeah right, say that when you're the poor creature squeezed under the tire. I was so sure you have that soft spot, tattoos and all, and in spite the funny way you say the hubby and the baby like they were distant strangers. It's just too bad it took the death of a butterfly to bring out your inner artist. Reading your blog was a pleasant experience. I'll be back.
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