The Magical Butterfly

I remember when I was about 3 or 4, my mom took me to the dollar store to buy a treat with some money Grandma sent me.

After carefully considering all of my toy options, I decided on a butterfly net.  (Although plastic army men were a close second)  The net was pink and green plastic, cheaply made, but I didn't care.  It was such a treasure;  Now I could finally catch those pretty little insects that always seemed to flit just out of my reach.

I ran around on my stubby four-year-old legs, swinging the net at any bug that looked suspicious.  I kept at it for days, without success.  It seemed they were just too quick for me.

I was a determined little munchkin, though.

I stayed on the watch for an unsuspecting butterfly, net in hand.

My dreams finally came true one day when a bright yellow butterfly landed on a low bush, right on my level.  I threw my dollar store net and... I caught it!  I proudly closed off the opening of the net and ran to show my mom.

After observing it awhile, we set it free, possibly to land on another low bush and be captured by another eager tot.

I still have that net somewhere.  Even after 11 years, I can't bring myself to part with it.  I was reminded of that butterfly net yesterday when I saw a yellow butterfly, just like the one I caught, fluttering its way through our backyard.  It finally occurred to me to wonder what type it was.

I whipped out my handy-dandy pocket butterfly guide and found a plethora of bright yellow butterflies that fit my description.  Of course they couldn't make it simple for me and just put a sign on the type I had.  I finally found one that looked identical:  the male Cloudless Sulphur.  Not a very pretty name, is it?  Still, I like it.  Sometimes the most ordinary things turn out to be magical.