#88-HEY ELMER, WHO'S THE NUT WITH THE LIGHT?

FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU GUYS FOR MAKING 2010 A GREAT YEAR.  I HAVE DELIGHTED IN WRITING THIS BLOG.  IT IS THE BEST THING THAT HAS HAPPENED TO ME IN A WHILE.  THIS GETS ME UP IN THE MORNING AND FILLS IN THE BORING DAYS I HAVE HAD IN THE PAST (taking care of my 99 year old father 24/7).  AND, WHEN TV IS LOUSY (way too many times lately) I CAN TURN TO WRITING.  THANKS FOR THE MANY WONDERFUL COMMENTS AND FOR BEING SO GOOD TO ME.
Karen


I love fire flies (or lightening bugs).  In fact, when my parents moved me from Missouri to California in 1952 they were one of the things I missed the most.

One evening, this summer (2010) I sat on my small front porch listening to the frogs and enjoying the relative silence of the night. 

Hi!  You talkin to me?

Across the street a naturally landscaped vacant lot  with a drainage ditch, lush fescue and a variety of trees, was growing very dark.  The darkness was closing in and at that moment I was glad that there wasn’t a street light close to my home.  You see, since it was so dark I could clearly see the bright fire flies raise from the grass and drop from the trees.

It was like they were an earth bound Milky Way only I could see their movements.

Suddenly, I had a scathingly (I love this word) brilliant idea, rushed into the house, and retrieved a pen-light.  Plopping myself back in my chair I proceeded to blink the light; trying to pattern it to their rhythm.

The activity across the road started to change.  I would blink at them and some of them would blink back.  I would blink at them again and some would move closer.  This went on for about 10 minutes.

Drats! U aint what I got all lit up fer!

Much to my delight my whole front yard was filled with lightening bugs.  I sat there enjoying the light show and wondering how confused they must be when the bright light that summoned them did not court them as they had expected.  

kt2011