If It's Weird, I Don't Care

Nightly Gathering Open Thread Post 171

I could have easily taken today off, but the weather is still on and off rainy, hubby worked, so what the heck? I also like days that most other people I work with take off because I can catch up on things instead of attending to immediate needs.

There was a nice break in the weather around noon so I headed back to Cathedral Caverns. I enjoyed yesterday’s walk a lot and also wanted to stay in mostly shade again.

We retraced yesterday’s steps and decided to go through the sunny bend so I’d have closer to 50 minutes instead of 40. We heard then saw peripherally two deer as they darted away. To be honest, I wasn’t doing a lot of thinking about Morgan or sadness. I was mostly thinking about random things like our plans for tomorrow to go kayaking with friends again, and whether the weather would permit it.

I was also slightly fearful, just slightly, because the further up that road the more remote it feels. I am in Alabama and memories of Deliverance popped in, (yesterday as well), because once I reach this one point, the sound of a rooster or three with a very strange sound permeates the air. I think things like, “If something happens to me here, no way does my dog stay by my side. She’ll run off.” I know this because when I trip and fall occasionally on hikes, she could care less. The few cars or trucks that pass me do not wave when I wave at them. They probably hate there are cabins and a campground invading their space.

Well you are all in for a treat today because I ended up doing some filming. After I turned around we got treated to one of the deer running across the road. As said previously, that was a nice mood lifter right there. No film of that however. Next, I was thinking about sharing the sound of the roosters with y’all and the outline of what I thought this post would be about. As I’m nearing the spot, I noticed that a big yellow butterfly had been hanging out with us for a couple minutes, which began to intrigue me.

I take a lot of walks of course, and I know I’ve seen random butterflies, and I know sometimes they will hang around for a bit, so it was only after a minute or so that it occurred to me I should pay better attention. I was also at the spot where you can hear the sick roosters so you get a two-fer. Turn your volume up.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ukguHd6CfFUzIpvZe-4SU2kbzXbQrByi/view?usp=drive_link

Looking at the timestamps, it was three minutes later that the big yellow butterfly made another appearance, so I talked to it.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ujVVecOxQTpSNE3erP3CzR1dOnjDBS6i/view?usp=drive_link

I didn’t even notice at the time there was a blue butterfly already “there.”

Now it is five minutes later that a/the blue butterfly made itself known to me so I followed and filmed it, too.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ug6SocFS4bVOpF-_H4c7bw12RqTBuVPb/view?usp=drive_link

Next you get a nice picture of some Alabama foliage. I have all of these exact Rose of Sharon trees and canna lillies in my yard. Just a connection I noticed.

A minute later I caught another butterfly but the filming of it doesn’t show it, so I won’t make you suffer the jiggly camera and me talking.

Thirteen minutes after the last video, when I’m getting closer to where we parked, I see yet another. You’ll hear me elude to the fact I’d just said to myself that this was an extraordinary amount of butterflies, meant to make me feel the spirit of Mo today to help get me out of the funk I’ve been in. I had said if I see one more, I’ll really take it as a sign. This one stays out in front and I literally ask if its/she’s going to go to the car with us.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uHKVHBz8h5QGMbIXcBK2kiB5OLn_6yJG/view?usp=drive_link

I don’t think it/she does, but as soon as I get the dog in and get into my driver’s seat, I see it/her very clearly nearby so I hop out again and film. She gets to the car!

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uCZtLFcPqLP4MYSCreZDsS1HVdxX8onj/view?usp=drive_link

Okay, I know some of you think that’s it, she’s lost her mind now. Maybe haha. But I’ll tell you one thing, those butterflies helped my blues subside for the time being. Is it a coincidence that just last week I hung the mini quilts made out of her clothes in my living room and one of them is a butterfly?

When I turned the car on, it was the end of the song “Total Eclipse of the Heart,” a song I have always loved. This time, it’s not that the lyrics themselves fit, but the title sure does. The pain I’ve been feeling lately came on and is leaving as an eclipse of the heart. It arrives, I have to feel it, and then it leaves again. I had to change the station after that because either DJs started talking or it was a commercial. The next song I heard fit perfectly and I think brought the last of the tears for awhile. For those of you who may not know, “Amen” means “Let it Be So.” I’m feeling better. Thank you.

"The Blessing"
(feat. Kari Jobe & Cody Carnes)

The Lord bless you
And keep you
Make His face shine upon you
And be gracious to you
The Lord turn His
Face toward you
And give you peace

The Lord bless you
And keep you
Make His face shine upon you
And be gracious to you
The Lord turn His
Face toward you
And give you peace

Amen, amen, amen
Amen, amen, amen

The Lord bless you
And keep you
Make His face shine upon you
And be gracious to you
The Lord turn His
Face toward you
And give you peace

Amen, amen, amen
Amen, amen, amen
Amen, amen, amen
Amen, amen, amen

May His favor be upon you
And a thousand generations
And your family and your children
And their children, and their children

May His favor be upon you
And a thousand generations
And your family and your children
And their children, and their children

May His favor be upon you
And a thousand generations
And your family and your children
And their children, and their children

May His favor be upon you
And a thousand generations
And your family and your children
And their children, and their children

May His presence go before you
And behind you, and beside you
All around you, and within you
He is with you, He is with you

In the morning, in the evening
In your coming, and your going
In your weeping, and rejoicing
He is for you, He is for you

He is for you, He is for you
He is for you, He is for you
He is for you, He is for you

Amen, amen, amen
Amen, amen, amen

May His favor be upon you
And a thousand generations
And your family and your children
And their children, and their children

May His presence go before you
And behind you, and beside you
All around you, and within you
He is with you, He is with you

In the morning, in the evening
In your coming, and your going
In your weeping, and rejoicing
He is for you, He is for you

He is for you, He is for you
He is for you, He is for you
He is for you, He is for you
He is for you, He is for you

Amen, amen, amen
Amen, amen, amen

May His favor be upon you
And a thousand generations
And your family and your children
And their children, and their children

May His presence go before you
And behind you, and beside you
All around you, and within you
He is with you, He is with you

In the morning, in the evening
In your coming, and your going
In your weeping, and rejoicing
He is for you, He is for you

He is for you, He is for you
He is for you, He is for you
He is for you, He is for you
He is for you, He is for you