Fireflies

My personal almanac said it was time for the first sighting of fireflies. The "mean" over about a decade of observance is May 17th. Last night I saw one! It was such a wacky, early, warm spring it's nice to know at least these guys have their calendars straight. There is nothing more magical than a firefly in May. There is nothing more lonely than a single firefly in September.

Here's an illustration by the masterful Barb Cooney from the picture book "Letting Swift River Go", written by Jane Yolen. Find out how the story uses this image of childhood to symbolize coming to terms with life events beyond ones control. How powerful and instructive observances of nature can be!