Thursday, August 27, 2009

Tiny Moments of Grace . . .

On Sunday, Faire was a little overcrowded; it was possible, at any given moment, to be surrounded by twenty people who would stand just eight inches from you, flashing their cameras in your face and barely allowing any movement. I had a lot of good interactions, but I was feeling a little wilted from a few bad ones, people who seemed to think it was fun to come to the Faire just to be rude to the performers there. I definitely needed a reminder of how wonderful it was to be doing what I do every weekend.

Just after makeup touch-ups were finished at the shack, I left to go on my walk-about time: the only time during the day when I can leave the glen and go anywhere else I choose on the Faire site. As I passed the shack, I noticed a huge, beautiful dragonfly, caught in a spiderweb, dead. This seemed like the last straw in a difficult day, and I felt myself tear up. I know it's a natural cycle of life, that the dragonfly had probably killed it's share of spiders before meeting its eventual fate, and the spider needs to eat too, but . . . it made me very sad. Just a few weeks before, Tegan had brought me a tiny dying dragonfly, and we had both held it gently as it expired, wherafter she had taken it and buried it gently.

I went out and tried to center myself, finding a little garden spot I loved to hide in by the Lord Mayor's Forum Stage, wrapped around a pole hung with a beautiful creeping vine. I had just settled in when I saw four dragonflies or more flitting about the pine bushes near me. I reached out in awe, and one of them promptly landed on the back of my hand. Just like that, I was steward of a little piece of beauty.

Several children had gathered, and I very gently showed them the dragonfly, a medium-sized Saffron-winged Meadowhawk, most likely. They looked at me with faces that probably mirrored my own, full of wonder and delight. It stayed for quite awhile, and every once in a while it would cock its head, and I would respond with a head tilt of my own. I heard a boy ask, "Can she talk to bugs?" to which his father replied, "Of course she can. Look."

After several moments the dragonfly took wing once again, but it returned, and one little girl remarked, "You made a friend." I was so full of joy and awe in that moment that I needed nothing else. It was as though the universe was saying It's all right. Just breathe. The dragonfly finally departed for good, but it stayed with me long after it was gone.

32 comments:

Anonymous said...

Sometimes it's the little things, isn't it? Lovely post.
pk @ Room Remix

glenna said...

I will think of this beautiful post the next time I see a dragonfly.

Helen McGinn said...

What a lovely post.

Laura said...

I've always been fascinated with dragonflies. That's one bug that doesn't creep me out (along with lady bugs & rollypolly's).

AmericanTribal said...

This is lovely... it put a smile on my face. It's amazing how beautiful little pieces of nature can make us feel wonderful.

www.americantribal.blogspot.com

Sonja @ Craft-Werk said...

What an interesting end to a difficult day. Wouldn't it be fantastic if we could talk to all animals?

Sarah said...

Such a sweet, sweet story -- it made me smile too! It's wonderful to be reminded of the beauty that's all around us.

Kari said...

Beautiful. Love how nature can bring a smile and awe to the faces all around it.

Kmama said...

I loved the little girl telling you that you made a friend. What a great story.

Becky @ Babes in Hairland said...

That's really cool. I'm glad you were able to have that encounter to lift your spirits. Thanks for sharing. And beautifully put btw. Enjoy your day in the SITS spotlight.

Mrs. M said...

That is just wonderful!! ;-)

Sherri said...

What a wonderful story:) My daughter and I love dragonflies so much. She has a gift of luring them to land on her and they seem to sit in peace.

Brandi said...

What a lovely story. I love how the world can surprise you sometimes.

Jenn Erickson said...

Magical! What a lovely turn of events. Sounds like an incredible Faire, and I'm sorry to hear that there were some bad apples rolling around.

Jenn @ rookno17.blogspot.com

Creative Junkie said...

I am not an insect, bird or general animal person, but there's something about dragonflies that I find beautiful.

How sweet that he thought you could talk to them!

Insanitykim said...

Awesome. Dragonflies are one of my faves! I am very thankful for the little gifts in life!

seven thirty three said...

I'm so glad you had that moment of peace to restore your day! Happy SITS day.

Anonymous said...

I always look for the unexpected beauty. Try it at a stop light. Look around and find something pretty. It makes the red lights more fun.

Marilyn (A Lot of Loves) said...

I love your story. It was very soothing to read after my difficult day. Thanks.

InspiredDreamer said...

What a beautiful story, and very well written. What a joy to have your happiness returned and to share it with others.

"Can she talk to bugs?" "Of course she can."

Love it.

Unknown said...

your costume was as amazing as your writing flows

jonewman said...

I love that Faire...we go every year when we are in Wisconsin! I agree about the dragonflies, they are amazing!

Hoity Toity Baby said...

Lovely post! And a lovely moment for you!

Schmerica said...

Great story, it's amazing what one will find when they open their eyes and just live.

Anonymous said...

Beautiful moment and beautifully retold. Happy SITS Day!

Annie @ astonesthrowfrominsanity said...

I love those unexpected moments of joy in the day that make you smile!

Single Mama NYC said...

Such a lovely post, thank you for sharing this. :-)

Claudya Martinez said...

That's magiC!

Anonymous said...

That is beautiful!

Robin said...

Life is full of beauty if we just take the time to notice.
I am so glad your day turned itself around.

Wishing you a beautiful weekend

Lamonica said...

Great post. We all need to take time to enjoy the beauty of mother nature.

Stopping by from SITS

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Jennifer Bowen said...

Lovely post! Mother nature has its own way of sharing its beauty with us. For every death, there's a birth or rebirth. Congrats on the SITS FB! =)