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"Can you hear me, butterfly? I put on my new bathing suit, bright tropical flowers on a white
background and headed up to the pool. It's always quiet there on weekdays and I consider myself lucky to be able to take a break in the middle of a summer afternoon and have the place to myself. I settled
back on the lounge chair and started to read, hoping to calm my jitters. Suddenly something swooped at me. Without thinking, I flailed my arms around to shoo it away. Then I realized it was a butterfly and felt
terrible about my unwelcoming behavior. Moments later, the butterfly landed on one of the purple flowers on my stomach. I didn't dare breathe…until I had to. And then I took gentle breaths. I watched the
butterfly go up when I inhaled and down when I exhaled. Up, down, up, down and on and on and on. I looked around, hoping to share the wonder with a neighbor, but there was no one in sight.
Then I noticed the butterfly trying to get the pollen from the purple flower. I explained that even though it looked like one, it wasn't a real flower. I felt terrible that the butterfly was trying to get nourishment
from my bathing suit! Suddenly, I had a memory and an idea: when I was in Costa Rica, I visited a butterfly farm where fruit had been set out for the butterflies. Half grapefruits and oranges topped with happy
butterflies were everywhere. Now I didn't happen to have any oranges or grapefruits with me, but I did have some grapes. Carefully, I reached into my bag and plucked a
grape from the bunch. I bit it in half and put half in front of the butterfly. Antennae twitching, the butterfly extended a tentative tongue to the grape. To my delight and amazement, the butterfly
climbed onto the grape and ate. For a long time. I looked around again to share the wonder of it all, but apparently, this gift was only for me.
The butterfly stayed a while longer and flew away. I watched it go, grateful for the connection. And with a giggle, I realized I was no longer nervous. It seems when there's a butterfly on my stomach, I let
go of the butterflies in my stomach!
©2001 Sandi Kimmelback to the Features page E-mail: sandik@musichealer.com
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ne fine summer day, I received a phone call from a reporter requesting an interview with me for some work I was doing at that time. We made an appointment to
talk the next day. I hung up the phone and literally danced around the living room with glee. When I finally sat down to do some work, I was too nervous and excited to sit still –
the butterflies in my stomach made concentrating impossible. I gave in and decided to spend an hour at the pool in my complex.