Day 231: Dragonflies

I am grateful for dragonflies.  I am amazed at their beauty and in awe of what they've come to mean to our family.

Most people who are close to me know this story; but for those of you who don't, here it is.


The day of my father's funeral was one of the hardest days of my life.  I remember seeing those awful black limousines parked outside of the funeral home. I couldn't comprehend that they were waiting for me, my mother, my brothers, my family. The morning itself is a muddled memory.  I remember sitting in that car feeling numb, if a person can actually feel numb.  I don't remember the car moving, but we were at the church.  We were at the church that my parents were married in and that all of us kids were baptized in.  I don't know how I made it down that aisle.  The church service is a bit of a blur, with the exception of the amazing poem my Uncle Joey wrote in remembrance of my Dad.  We left the church the way we walked in - quiet, sad, and with heavy hearts.  

The limousines drove us down Parker Street, a special request made by my family to the funeral director.  I remember my nephew sitting on the front steps of my parent's house, waving at the parade.  My Dad got the parade he always wanted.  

At the cemetery my immediate family was brought to the closet spot possible.  I don't remember a single thing that was said.  What I do remember is looking up to the sky and seeing dragonflies.  I can't even estimate how many there were - all flying around our crowd of mourning.  I moved closer to my mom and told her to look up.  My mom has always loved dragonflies.  I smiled and my mom smiled.  I think it was the first time all morning.  

Since then we've all been surrounded my dragonflies.  My brother had one land on his tie shortly after going back to work.  My mom began noticing them everywhere.  I can't count the number of dragonflies that have come into my path in the past 3 1/2 years.  I'd see them on water bottles, cards, bumper stickers, and my favorite - outside in my backyard.  

I am grateful for each and every dragonfly I have seen since my father passed away.  They are simple, fleeting reminders of my Dad's presence.  He is with me, he is with my brothers, and he is with my Mom.  



This is a story about dragonflies that my Mom found awhile back.

The Dragonfly
Once, in a little pond, in the muddy water under the lily pads,
there lived a little water beetle in a community of water
beetles.  They lived a simple and comfortable life in the pond
with few disturbances and interruptions.

Once in a while, sadness would come to the community when one of
their fellow beetles would climb the stem of a lily pad and
would never be seen again.  They knew when this happened; their
friend was dead, gone forever.

Then, one day, one little water beetle felt an irresistible urge
to climb up that stem.  However, he was determined that he would
not leave forever.  He would come back and tell his friends what
he had found at the top.

When he reached the top and climbed out of the water onto the
surface of the lily pad, he was so tired, and the sun felt so
warm, that he decided he must take a nap.  As he slept, his body
changed and when he woke up, he had turned into a beautiful
blue-tailed dragonfly with broad wings and a slender body
designed for flying.

So, fly he did!  And, as he soared he saw the beauty of a whole
new world and a far superior way of life to what he had never
known existed.

Then he remembered his beetle friends and how they were thinking
by now he was dead.  He wanted to go back to tell them, and
explain to them that he was now more alive than he had ever been
before.  His life had been fulfilled rather than ended.

But, his new body would not go down into the water.  He could
not get back to tell his friends the good news.  Then he
understood that their time would come, when they, too, would
know what he now knew.  So, he raised his wings and flew off
into his joyous new life!


~Author Unknown~