When I was small, we lived in a house with a long backyard lined completely with trees.  One afternoon, the breezy leaves above us filled with the fluttery wings of monarch butterflies.  I remember looking up, feeling like the trees were in motion, winking wings flickery with orange.

Tonight as we were clearing the table I noticed a few butterflies in the backyard.  Then, I could see whole branches covered with the dusty wings of butterflies.  I took the kids outside with me, turned our faces toward the sky.


We each experienced the sight differently.  I took about a hundred pictures, wanting to capture the magic of the moment I felt when I was a girl.  Sophie wanted the butterflies to hold her.  Martin threw screwdrivers at them.  And that pretty much captures who we are.