So we’re sitting in the airport waiting for our flight now and I’ve got just enough time for a story. I think. (Headed to Birmingham, spending Family Weekend with Jonathan at Samford. Wahoo.)

Last month I told you about taking Charlie and Hudson to The Butterfly Place in August. And that we got our very own monarch just a few weeks later. We’re not talking Queen Elizabeth here. We’re talking a lovely zebra-striped monarch caterpillar.

So the three of us arrive at the Butterfly Place in Westford, Massachusetts and an earnest and attentive twenty-something checks us in. A stern older lady comes over, hands us our tickets. Through pursed lips she reads us the ground rules for the butterfly sanctuary. She doesn’t crack a smile or seem particularly happy to see us either.

Well you know me. I just can’t keep my mouth shut. So I say somewhat cheerfully, “You sure run a tight ship around here.”

And she says, “Well I have to. You’d be surprised at the people who come in here.”

“Really…” I say invitingly.

And she says, “Yep. Just last week they radioed me from the butterfly sanctuary. Said they were sending a grandmother and child back to me for a refund. She arrived flustered and red-faced. I asked what the problem was.”

“Oh there’s a problem alright. And I want my money back. This place is no fun at all. Not if you can’t squish ’em,” she said angrily.

Oh my word. Can you even believe it? This woman (I won’t call her a lady) came to the butterfly sanctuary with her grandchild intent on squishing butterflies. Sigh. People.

Speaking of people. Friends were visiting us back in August for a few days and told us the craziest story ever over brunch. I still think about it and can hardly believe it really happened.

So friends of theirs got married. Had their wedding videoed. And at the reception the videographer sets up a running camera camouflaged behind some bushes so the happy couple can relive the memories later. A few months after the wedding the couple gets the video in the mail. The videographer says be sure to watch the reception closely, right around when the bride throws the bouquet.

So watching the video, they see everyone head over some distance to see the bride, leaving the buffet table area unattended. Well. Two of the guests, actually a dentist and his wife, do not join the group cheering on the bride. Instead, they rush quietly to their car. Snag some large Tupperware containers and Ziploc bags and head back to the buffet table. Looking both ways, they furtively stuff the containers and bags to the gills with sandwiches and finger foods. YES!

(That’s when I choke on my blueberry pancake, no kidding.)

Can you even imagine?

“Quick honey. You grab the sammies, I’ll snag the eclairs. “

True story. And to think it was all premeditated. And recorded. Ouch. People are so interesting. (Doubting they’ll be invited back for the vow renewals.)

So the boys and I went to the butterfly sanctuary and thoroughly enjoyed it. We were fascinated to see so many different kinds of butterflies. Charlie was enamored with the whole process and Hudson was just as excited about butterflies as he is about birds.

The following week I’m out walking at the park with a friend. Between us we have thirteen children. (I love that line. It’s also true.) Of course more than 2/3 are hers. And because of all these wonderful kiddos, we have to walk early early. Like 6 a.m. early.

So we’re walking around the pond, and she spies a monarch caterpillar feasting on a milkweed leaf. A big monarch caterpillar. And I get to thinking how much Charlie would delight in seeing that caterpillar morph into a butterfly.

When I get home, I tell Charlie I’ve got a scavenger hunt for him at the park. And we pack Hudson into the stroller and walk back. We play 20 questions and eventually Charlie finds that fat caterpillar. And I just happen to have a pair of clippers handy in the stroller and I snip snip the milkweed branch.

And I know it’s wrong because moments after I snip, a parks & rec employee rolls in on a golf cart nearby and I find myself HIDING the branch in the back stroller pocket. Yep. Guilty. Me. (But walking home I think about my high property taxes that finance the park upkeep and feel a tad less guilt.)

People. Naughty caterpillar-pilfering people like me. And the sneaky dentist and his wife. And that sadistic butterfly squisher.

Hey guess what? They’re calling our flight now. Gotta go gotta go gotta go. Have a fabulous weekend my friend!

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The post Stolen Monarch appeared first on Through Her Looking Glass.

Roots and Wings: It’s been quite a week around here with lots of transition, change and even a maiden flight in my kitchen! If you follow along here on weekends, you know we dropped our oldest son Jonathan at Samford University in Birmingham last week.

(And if you’re new, I post recipes during the week and muse on the weekends.)

A close friend there in Birmingham reminded me of this Roots and Wings quote I love by Hodding Carter:

“There are two gifts we should give our children: one is roots and the other is wings.”

The various directions my mind is going with this post are dizzying, and it would probably be about three posts long if I just went with it. So I’ll spare you some detail.

But lots of interesting things happened in the space of a week around here, and it was the sequence that was so unusual.

Two weeks ago I took our Hudson and Charlie to The Butterfly Place just over the border in Westford, MA.

Hudson, who has Down syndrome, is absolutely fascinated by birds. At the beach he fixates on every seagull in sight and is captivated, often jumps up with urgency to go make friends.

But they never stick around long enough to meet him. Hmmmm….

So I thought The Butterfly Place might be a hit with Hudson. And I was right. It’s a large, open rainforest-type area with hundreds of multi-colored butterflies in flight. If you’ve never visited one of these butterfly sanctuaries, it’s truly amazing.

So I’ve had butterflies on the brain. And then just a few days before we left for Birmingham, I came into possession of a monarch caterpillar. I’ll tell you more details about how all that transpired later.

Our new “pet” munched and crunched through lots of milkweed leaves in our kitchen. I actually had to put newspapers under it. (Who knew hungry caterpillars need litter boxes?)

And right before we left for Birmingham, during the cover of night while the rest of us were sleeping, it curled up and encased itself in a shiny green chrysalis. All the time we were gone, it quietly incubated, hanging by a thread from a leaf on our kitchen counter.

Several days after we got home, it noiselessly wriggled out of its chrysalis as a gorgeous monarch butterfly, dried off its wings and flew its maiden flight. Right in our kitchen. It was fascinating. A timely and poignant reminder to me that change isn’t necessarily bad. Even with struggle, it can actually be breathtaking.

Observing that caterpillar transform into a butterfly at exactly this time in my life was a gift. Here I’d just dropped a child off at college for the first time.

And now he too is spreading his wings. Taking flight. The story is being written.

And while there are bittersweet moments just thinking about how far away he is, flight is a beautiful thing when you’re grounded and have roots.

So this morning I say to Jonathan and all his wonderful classmates and friends who have also entered the next phase of the journey: FLY!

Fly high and long. Deep and wide. Sometimes you’ll crash. And that’s ok. (We all did too.) Because you’ll get back up and soar again, maybe higher the next time. It’s the ascent, descent and nose dives in between that truly grow us anyway.

You’re dearly loved by your families. And you’re ready! You’ve got what you need, you’ve been preparing for independence all along. And when things get stormy (as they will) – keep looking Up.

Know that your families are here for you, no matter the miles. We pray for you often, and trust you’ll cling to your deep roots. Always remember your Roots and Wings. Because knowing who you are and where you came from is key to discerning where you’re headed.

And to my dear friends flung far and wide who are also on this transitional journey: you’re in my thoughts and prayers as we adjust together.

Sending big bear hugs to all, have a beautiful holiday weekend. XO

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