BUTTERFLIES FLY FREE

Exotic and exquisite, delicate and delightful, graceful and gallant, butterflies have been blessed with extraordinary names. They have been called Peacock Pansy, Piano Key, Jezebel, Emerald Swallowtail, Painted Lady, Grecian Shoemaker, Lacewing, Mosaic, Red Cracker, Archduke, Indian Leaf and Glassy Blue Tiger, to name but a few. Butterflies have nothing to do with butter or the belief that they hover above pails of milk like witches in disguise, prepared to steal the cream. They are thought to be bringers of dreams, symbols of long life and beauty. Despite their short life span, sometimes a mere fourteen days, butterflies have been around for millions of years. Once numbering in the billions, they often migrate long distances. Classified as insects, they have been on earth as long as flowers have existed. After the long, long months of the pandemic, many people feel like they have been in a cocoon or chrysalis stage, a silken casing that was impenetrable. We were in hibernation, in a waiting mode, anxious to emerge but powerless to break free. Ironically some butterflies can stay in this stage for up to two years as caterpillars. Finally it is safe for us to wake up, to burst open and crawl out, ready to take flight. We are now vaccinated and experiencing the miracle of metamorphosis, to stretch our long dormant wings and open to the joys of freedom. Gratefully we embrace new names like Painted Ladies, Lacewing, Archduke and Glassy Blue Tiger as we resume our lives again happily, anxiously, wondrously. Dazzle on!