Fireflies

I'll never forget the first time I saw a firefly. I'll never forget the utter excitement and awe. I grew up in California, and there are no fireflies in California. I must have always wanted to see one. And when I finally did get to see a firefly, it was glorious.

Well, a sad thing happened after we moved here.

I got used to them.

Not that used to them, I mean how can you get used to something so, er, magical, for lack of a better word. But I must have gotten used to them at least a little bit.

Then a very happy thing happened. Owl City, the greatest music this side of Middle Earth. It is quirky and electric, random and all around beautiful. But anyhow, Owl City's greatest song is called 'Fireflies.' It made me excited about fireflies again. I listened to it all fall and all winter and really started wanting to see fireflies again.

On May 11, I was sitting outside on our deck watching the lights on the tower across the road blinking. It was rather late and dark, and I was rather very sad. I had been watching the lights on the tower blink for a long time (Yes, I have a very exciting life) when I saw something else blink. I wondered at first if there was another tower behind the tree that I hadn't seen. I think even before I got up to go see if it was, I realized that it was a firefly. I was ecstatic. I really hadn't been expecting the fireflies for quite a long while, so I was very happy. I instantly started singing the song 'Fireflies' and trying to see if I could see more of them. I only saw a few more, and I have only seen them once since then, but it was still wonderful.

Have a happy summer.