On the day when your boss calls you to assess whether you are still an asset or possibly already a massive burden and you really couldn't care because you spent most of the night coughing
on the day your GP confirms that this isn't strep throat but in fact scarlet fever and that it will take a good while longer before you will enjoy whatever you imagined this summer still has to offer
on the day your sister tells you - sort of by the way - that just before we all got together under my granny's apple trees, three and a half weeks ago, her granddaughter, the sweet but somewhat cranky toddler we all passed around from lap to lap that afternoon, had developed the tell tale rash plus fever and that the pediatrician had warned earlier that she was highly contagious and should be kept at home but my sister felt what the heck
on the day that you open a small parcel that your science teacher husband has placed on the lunch table
you realise that obviously this is the day you start breeding your very own butterfly family.
These are the first five larvae just after arrival. If it works out, I am going for hundreds. This year, we have counted numerous useless Cabbage Whites, one Brimstone and one lonely Red Admiral on our butterfly friendly flowering plants. Clearly, there is room for improvement.
Oh Sabine, I'm so sorry to read that you have been diagnosed with scarlet fever. Yikes. Well, at least now with a diagnosis, the right antibiotics should start working. Hope you get past this as soon as possible. On the brightest of bright sides, what a wonderful gift R gave you. Butterflies, like hearts and art with wings. Good luck with it, and keep us posted. And... please get well. Sending you best wishes.
ReplyDeleteAll I can say is -HOLY CRAP!
ReplyDeleteIn all of the ways these two words can be used.
Miracles and wonders indeed.
Oh noooooo! I sure hope your sister has learned a lesson and has apologized profusely.
ReplyDeleteWhat would we do without butterflies and music and those we love and who love us?
ReplyDeleteScarlet fever?! Yikes! Please take care of yourself!
ReplyDeleteWe're having a bad year for butterflies, too. I've seen a few admirals but not much else aside from the ever-present cabbage whites. I wonder if it has something to do with this summer's weather?
Lots to be annoyed about there! :) I can sympathize. A friend of mine who was going to go on many mountain bike expeditions this summer has just broken his ankle - he is having to readjust his plans!
ReplyDeleteThe butterflies sound just the thing.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear about the scarlet fever! Who needed that?? I hope your sister is abjectly apologetic. If not, she should be.
But - your own family of butterfies? Wonderful. Teach them early on to sit still when they see you with your camera!
My bother-in-law is an avid rock climber. He fell a few months ago and had to seriously adjust his plans. Sympathies to your broken-ankled friend.
i absolutely adore your sense of proportion, your intuitive knowing what matters. butterflies! yes.
ReplyDeleteScarlet f... what the?! Gods, so sorry.
ReplyDeleteAt least you will have flutterbyes.
catching up with you today and very sorry to read the gist of the post (and oddly, enjoyed very much the way you wrote it, conveying some kind of wise detachment that I admire.) I hope you recover as quickly as possible.
ReplyDeleteScarlet fever???Sorry to hear that...I love butterflies and have seen a few here though not as many as in past years. Best of luck with your boss and your recuperation.
ReplyDelete