Tag: Butterfly Museum

Posted on

A Picture to Remember, by Ricky

While researching my mind and previous stories, I found one where I described how I would ponder many unusual concepts, ideas, or things in general and then ask “off the wall” questions about those subjects. Last week or so, I had another episode of that behavior and will share it will you.

Can you picture this?

What would a pipe organ sound like if it were tuned to the Oriental music scale?

Try and picture this.

Why are butterflies not called flutter-byes which would be more descriptive?

Last Wednesday, Donald and I went to the Butterfly Museum as neither of us had been there before. We both found it very interesting. At one point, a butterfly landed on Donald’s head and rested for awhile. 

Not long after, one landed on the front of my right thigh and stayed for a respectful amount time before flying off.

We stayed to see the release of newly hatched butterflies into the habitat. A young boy carefully and slowly walked by into the release area while we waited. What was remarkable about the boy was the large butterfly perched on his shoulder. I was getting my camera ready to take a photo and when the boy noticed, he turned and posed for the picture.  

When it was time for the release, a docent described each butterfly as she released one of each of the different types. When she released a swallow-tail butterfly, it flew in a beeline straight for me and landed on the front of my left thigh. This one was in no hurry to leave and actually overstayed its welcome.

For about 10 minutes, I alternated between standing and walking about the habitat providing free transportation to my getting to be unwelcome guest. Donald and I finally arrived at a small gazebo with two benches. We sat down to rest and the butterfly still clung to my leg showing no intention of leaving. At last I tried to get it to leave my leg by offering my finger and the creature moved to my finger.

After a short passage of time, we transferred it to one of Donald’s fingers

and then to a nearby leaf where it stayed while Donald and I left.

The photos I took will help me remember this event well into the future.

Photos by the author

© 13 April 2015
About the Author

I was born in June of 1948 in Los Angeles, living first in Lawndale and then in Redondo Beach. Just prior to turning 8 years old in 1956, I began living with my grandparents on their farm in Isanti County, Minnesota for two years during which time my parents divorced.

When united with my mother and stepfather two years later in 1958, I lived first at Emerald Bay and then at South Lake Tahoe, California, graduating from South Tahoe High School in 1966. After three tours of duty with the Air Force, I moved to Denver, Colorado where I lived with my wife and four children until her passing away from complications of breast cancer four days after the 9-11 terrorist attack.

I came out as a gay man in the summer of 2010. I find writing these memories to be therapeutic.

My story blog is TheTahoeBoy.Blogspot.com