LarrySch

On Thanksgiving Day – while the turkey was being prepared for the dinner feast – I made my way to our raspberry patch. Putting off the cutting down of the stalks until I made sure that the frost had did its job. It was a sunny but lightly over cast day with the temperature in the 50’s. I went to the shed and retrieved a small hand held stalk cutting devise. (Wire cutters) Then I proceeded to the pasture where I have the raspberry patch. Well dang – back to the shop to turn off the electric fence – and then back to the raspberry patch. After a few minutes – I realized that the cutting devise that I had chosen really was not the tool for cutting down the tree like stalks – with sharp little sticker protruding from them – I made my way back to the shop for another tool of choice. A two foot long branch cutting tool. Yup, this will do the trick. Again while sweating, on my knees, cutting the stalks – I noticed a butterfly flying around the pasture and paying lots of attention to the raspberry patch. A butterfly still in the area in November? As I toiled with the stalks, the little butterfly spent about an hour flying around – landing on the fence posts and dying grass of the pasture. Upon completing my task at hand – removing the raspberry stalks to a burn area, I decided to move my body up to the porch and have a pop and rest a few minutes. I began walking up to the house and that little butterfly pretty much stayed with me. I was quite amused that something so beautiful and small would be flying around me and staying in my vicinity. I went to the garage and selected a beverage of my liking – Pepsi or Pepsi – and made my way back to the patio for a needed and earned rest. Low and behold the little butterfly was still flying around the area. I sat down in the warm sun, drank a few swallows, and proceeded to fall under the influence of the warmth of the sun to a slumbering state – in other words – I fell asleep. After a few minutes - ? – I woke up and could not believe my eyes. That small fragile butterfly had landed on my knee and appeared to be resting also. I sat very still and admired its beauty. After a few minutes I needed to reposition my old body and had to move. The next move broke my heart – as the little butterfly just fell off my knee and onto the stone patio. I picked it up and very gently touch its body. For whatever reason this little guy had chosen to spend its last moments of life in my pasture, flying around me and making its last landing on my knee. Then Mother Nature took over and its life was gone. This is probably silly but I went into the house, found a small box from my wife’s craft table, placed it in the box and took the butterfly back to the raspberry patch and buried it in an area that I knew I would not disturb.
Not knowing anything about butterflies I had to see what make and model this little guy was - Euphydryas gillettii - Gillettii Checkerspot. To say the least - and during our family pray before eating - I had to say to myself - rest in peace little one.

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Larry

" have you hugged your pet today"

steve mackay

Thank you, Sir !

Handyman

Larrysch That's a very nice and well written story. In our busy lives we move from moment to moment never taking the time to smell the roses and admire the beauty of nature. I believe even the smallest of Gods Creations remind us it is the simpler thing's in our live's that are most important. Thanks for posting the picture and the story.

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Collector of Old Tools
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Expert = Drip under pressure

Streamwinner

Nice story.

red

Well said. Red

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joesdad

Those of us who get that kind of story, reap a different kind of reward in life.

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frankp

Quite touching, Larry. It's a rare thing to be in that position, something to say thank you for on a day of thanks, to be sure.

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"I care not what others think of what I do, but I care very much about what I think of what I do! That is character!"

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Terry Beeson

We live in a world full of greed and pride making it "odd" to do something like this. I guess we guys think we have to feel all "macho" and everything or someone will think lesser of us. But I think it is a greater man who can do this and then tell his friends about it. While I might not have gone to the trouble of a funeral and burial for the butterfly, I'm sure I would have taken the moment in as well. More power to you, Larry...

Thanks for sharing...

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frankp

For anyone interested in the whole "macho man through the power of love" type of thing, I highly recommend the book "Shamballa, Sacred Path of the Warrior". It's a very old eastern philosophy (Chinese I believe) book that basically says the only way to be a truly enlightened and powerful being is through the love and peace. Great read if you even remotely like that kind of thing.

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"I care not what others think of what I do, but I care very much about what I think of what I do! That is character!"

--Theodore Roosevelt

Night Mill Bill

Thank you very much, Larry. I guess there is some hope left in this world after all.

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RichL

Nice story. Amazing how special things happen in our lives.