Summer 2007: Summary.

At the beginning of the summer I watched tiny, tricolored caterpillars slink their way across my sidewalk. Then I watched the caterpillars eating away at the Milkweed spread across my meadow. During summers middle I watched the caterpillars covered in their chrysalis’ delicately sway in the wind. At summer’s end I watched as the caterpillars flutter through the air as Monarch Butterflies and land on the Talking Tree.

The Talking Tree received her name because she had a face: the branches and leaves were her hair, two burls on the trunk were her eyes, another burl was her nose and a split within the bark was her mouth. She was extraordinary.

September 2007: Event.

As the sun began to set on this fresh September eve, my family sat on a hill at my Minnesota home and watched as hundreds of thousands of Monarch Butterflies filled the Talking Tree.

Vibrant oranges and bold blacks highlighted the Talking Tree’s natural greens. She was even more extraordinary.

Monarch Butterflies continued decorating the Talking Tree until the sun was about to fall off of the sky. On this night, my family gazed at the Talking Tree until the stars filled the sky and even then we stayed. The butterflies would act as the Talking Tree’s dancing gown for the evening and accompany her until the sun once again overcame the sky. In the morning the Talking Tree would be green again except for the one late-starting butterfly. I watched as the last butterfly fluttered away from the Talking Tree and made her way to where I stood. She danced for me and then she left.

Year 2016: Reflection.

That was the last time I witnessed the Talking Tree dressed in her evening dancing gown. It was years ago the event last occurred, but it used to happen every year. Right as summer ended and fall began.

Before the last time the Monarch Butterflies filled the Talking Tree, the butterflies were limitless. I saw them everywhere. Honestly, I took them for granted. Today, the butterflies are rare. I barely ever see them. And today, the Talking Tree is gone. Mother Nature got the best of her. But today, seeing a Monarch Butterfly flutter through the wind turns everything right. They turn everything beautiful, even if it’s just for a moment.

September 2016: Symbolism.

Seeing the butterflies now on an occasion ever so seldom has an absurd impact on me that cannot be explained anyway else than a symbol.

Monarch Butterflies are a symbol within many symbols. They are the Talking Tree who fed my youthful imagination. They are the moments I had with my family that became more meaningful as the years past. However they are so much more than the story I told.

To me, they are proof that when life that ends another begins, an incredible journey of the circle of life. They are my grandpa whom I never met but my grandma’s wisdom says became one after he left. They are the Earth gently kissing the summer goodbye and the fall hello. They are the future filled with unknown surprises and meanings that one-day will be found. They are a beautiful story within a beautiful story within a beautiful story.

These butterflies are a tangible hope for the return of life and a constant reminder of the beauty the holds within the past as well as a promise for the same in the future.

Today 2016: Conclusion.

That is why every time I see a Monarch Butterfly I know that everything is okay.