Just What I Needed

   The Small Gardens are a huge mess.  There has been no time to spend tidying them due to the massive amount of debris that Hurricane Zeta left in the yard.  The debris comes first as there is another storm predicted to make its way into the Gulf.  If that storm takes aim at us, the debris can become missiles and do greater damage.  So, the Small Gardens will lie in their current state until time is not so short.  It saddens me each time I pass through them to get to the task at hand.  I barely look at the wind-ravaged plants as if ignoring them may make it all go away.

  This morning, however, a tiny speck of orange peeped  out of the shambles and demanded attention.  I knelt down and carefully lifted a bit of the mess from atop the plant.  A marigold struggled to put forth a bloom even though it was broken and bent.  That tiny, twisted blossom was the most beautiful sight I have seen in a week.  Touching the flower ever so gently, I wanted to let it know that I appreciated its effort.  Then, a tiny Pearl Crescent Butterfly came to the bloom.  Even though I was just inches away, the butterfly crawled on the petals in search of nectar.  

  Suddenly, the day was a bit brighter, the work did not seem so daunting and, perhaps I was not quite as exhausted.  Life goes on...somewhat.  It is different.  It is hard.  It is tiring.  But it is life.