Mom's Butterflies and Bees

My mother was fascinated with butterflies and bumble bees. I found it silly. How could someone her age find amazement in insects?

Then momma died. Routine died as well. As did security and habit. Forget predictability, it too had passed.

Suddenly, I found myself feeling very small and very alone. I realized that it was there in the solitude that butterflies and bumble bees and such become valuable and precious. When you shut the humans out, you let the nature in. It was a process that I had to go through to understand. I cherish my memories of sitting on the porch with my momma as she spoke of the ever-so-busy insects in her garden as if they were a part of our family. I miss those moments and I find myself yearning for the season when the butterflies and bees will return to what is now my garden.