Although Christine's great butterfly has been our mascot since day one on the blog, we decided it should have some friends. Pop and I shot a bunch of pictures of items from his butterfly collection, and had an afternoon of Photoshop fun (if he weren't sick, I'd make him retire and come work for me as doing website production). The end result is something we modestly like to call THE BUTTERFLYZER, or the butterfly randomizer (thanks to Dan Benjamin for the cool randomizer script), which is displayed to your left. Refresh for a new random butterfly image.
Also, remember that comments are like bread--they're best when fresh. Put them on the newest thread so that they're easier for everybody to find!
Posted by Martin at April 23, 2005 01:50 PMWow, the butterflies are wonderful, but you know one of them is not a butterfly, but is a chrysalis. I learned about the chrysalis from my now 14 year old granddaughter when the Chrysalis Hotel and Spa opened, sometime in the last 3 - 5 years. Katie and I wandered through the hotel and she spotted the beautiful glass chrysalis in the entryway. The woman at the front desk was quite impressed that Katie knew what it was.
It would be easy for me to get caught up in the butterflies like Gillian and not deal with what you have said - that the cancer is growing. It is hard for me to believe the cancer is growing - you looked so good today! I enjoyed your visit very much. You and Marilyn and Martin can stop by anytime.
K
Posted by: Kay at April 23, 2005 07:47 PMKay --
Are you thinking of the butterfly in the frame? The upper butterfly has its wings folded and appears to be a dead leaf. The lower butterfly has the wings wide open. I bought the piece because it showed both beauty and camouflage.
Posted by: Donel McClellan at April 23, 2005 09:47 PMThank you, Martin, for the electronic wizardry which allows us to walk each step of this journey. I must confess in all honesty that I know less about "cool script" than I know about the inexplicable butterfly. What I do know, Donel, is that with every entry, with each nuance of your growing awareness, you insure your presence at each of our dyings. This has become a misistry, teaching each reader how to live now, and how to let go our clutches at the end. You will be at each bedside, with "nonexistant," unnecessary eyes, whispering reassurance and gently uncurling our fingers. I look forward to that.
Love,
Nancy
Donel,
I have looked more closely and I suppose the 4 yellow "cacoons" could be 2 yellow butterflies. I originally saw a string or thread (maybe a branch) with 4 yellow bodies attached. The one on the right appears to be separated in the center. It's weird - they still look like a chrysalis to me.
K
Ah, Kay. Those are two metal butterflies connected with a steel rod.
Ok - this isn't fair - Not only do I have the Blog on my "fave" list at work and check it randomly throughout the day - I can now refresh my image and try and predict which wonderfully unique butterfly image is going to next appear.
All things I do to stop me from thinking too much... Thinking about how I feel, how Donel and your family are feeling, how our church family is "Dealing" with everything. We, too, do not want to exist in denial of the physical losses to come - but somehow it is more natural to play "guess the next butterfly" than to mentally prepare ourselves.
However, yet again, Donel my pastor is keeping me in the loop, the "real" loop, reminding me to anticipate what is to come and to prepare.
My gratitude for you Donel, for this blog and for my church family that allows me to be vulnerable and learning with them, is immeasurable.
Now...I wonder which butterfly will be next...
Posted by: Gillian at April 23, 2005 06:16 PM