My mornings are serene; filled with just coffee and the view from my hammock chair. I watch the neighbors and the tourists. I peer around the corner of the neighbor's tree and enjoy our small peek at the lake. Sometimes I'll turn on some music; most of the time I prefer the quiet and serenity that comes with my much loved home.
I sat and drank in the usual morning venue when I heard a rumbling coming my way. Looking to the south, I saw a semi truck headed toward me. He was obviously lost, as we nearly dead-end in Lake Erie. The roar of the engine annoyed me. This was an inexcusable intrusion into the quiet and serene morning I was relishing. This summer was nearly over. My mornings of coffee and hammock sitting were numbered. What kind of idiot would bring a semi truck down such a quiet, residential side street?
He rumbled past our porch and the top of the truck hit the lowest laying branches of the maples on our tree lawn. I saw many branches ripped off and hit the street. I cursed him, and not just under my breath.
As he passed, the show began. He had disturbed the Monarch butterflies; the Monarch butterflies that were on their way south from Canada. The Monarch butterflies that just made the trip across Lake Erie and found a place to rest in the first trees they found on dry land.
At least fifty butterflies, possibly more, began the dance. They twirled and swirled and flirted and flitted. I watched as their orange, white and black bodies dipped and danced and soared. I held my breath with my eyes filling with tears as I watched the show. It snowed butterflies. The blizzard went on for at least ten minutes, although I felt it must have been hours. They would land long enough to see their amigos take flight again and join them.
My serenity had been disrupted for a reason. God sent me a movie I will never forget. I'm grateful for the lost semi driver.
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Comments: 34
We watch birds do this every evening. They dance before they find the roost they want on the trees around our property. Watching their ballet before the sun sets is a ritual hard to ignore.
Kate ~ Ooooh! Lavender butterflies! That sounds beautiful.
All summer we've had a flurry of small, white butterflies playing in the back gardens. I could sit on the patio and watch them for hours. They were nothing like the Monarchs, though. I think that was the most spectacular vision I'd ever seen from Mother Nature.
mike ~ I'm glad you appreciate the mornings like I do. If you have to do a morning, let it be filled with something enjoyable.
Ivy ~ Thank you!
La ~ And what an unusual way of bringing that blessing!
Joanne ~ I probably would have chased him down the street, calling him foul names and threatening to flatten his tires if the butterflies hadn't shown up.
See it here:
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Heather ~ I'm glad you enjoyed this. It was indeed a beautiful experience.
I like that word serene-those moments are rare for me. I did think yesterday, as I was alone on the deck, forcing the tan, and the windchime was making soft music...that I should take an hour every day until the snow was falling, just to sit and do nothing outside.
I never used to like mornings .... but now, when I can, I so enjoy taking my coffee outside and sitting on the deck and enjoying them... had all sorts of visitors this morning; ducks, geese, and the heron that usually comes in the evenings.... I rarely see him in the morning.
Ron ~ Thank you.
Carol ~ It wasn't wanted, but it was certainly appreciated when it happened.
Thanks, Sarina.
Duckie ~ You rock!
Lou Anne ~ That's a wonderful way of putting it. Have you ever thought of writing? ;o)
I love the serentiy of Sunday mornings. I would have enjoyed the butterfly ballet.
I am glad you got to see that magical moment that was brought by a lost truck driver.
Wondering if he stopped and talked with you about your trees?
Peter ~ That's a wonderful compliment, coming from YOU, my friend. Thank you!
Shawnee ~ No way was that guy going to check on the status of our trees. I think he was just freaked out from being on such a small side street with a lake on the end; trying to figure out how he was going to get himself out of that mess. Luckily, we're having tree service done this week to take care of some dead limbs. I don't think any lasting damage was done.