 |
An Omen for 2009 (a.k.a. A Hokey Bee Story for 2009) |
| Happy 2009, friends.
I had not intended to send this sort of email, but I have a story that I am compelled to share. Inspite of - or perhaps because of - the fact that I'd been awake for over 24 hours, I witnessed something today that, while tiny, moved me more than much else has recently. I'm calling it an omen, and I suggest that you suspend your cynicism and enjoy this small story. I've spent the last 48 hours wrapping up a tedious grad school application marathon. Last night, in particular, I pushed on through the 20 hour mark of 'awakeness' before I had to go to Small World to cover a 15 minute stint behind the counter while Ari ran from school to the cafe to work the rest of my shift for me. Tired as hell, clutching a stack of envelopes and transcript letters, I leave the cafe and head to my parking meter hoping that I had enough time left to run to the post office. As I am standing on the curb at the passenger side door, I notice a downy yellow bee, dead and positioned smack dab center on the roof of my car. I looked around, I picked her up, I was shocked but immediately wondered: who'd left a bee on my car? (I talk about my beekeeping obsession to damn near everyone within earshot, but who would have hung on to this bee long enough to happen across my car parked on the street? Seriously.) I carried it into the cafe to wonder aloud, debating wether it was deliberate or coincidence that her final resting place was my car's roof. My friend Malena handed me a squeeze bottle of honey, jokingly, and I sadly put a drop next to the motionless bee. The sadness began to sink in ('my babies!') and I stared at it, stared, but then.... it began to wiggle. I ran outside - she's not dead, after all! just on her last legs! - and plunked down on the stoop watch as she not only woke up, but began to crawl. She crawled to the dot of honey, I watched her proboscis dip into it and drink some - and before I knew it, she'd flown away. I think cried out audibly, I was so stunned, overjoyed, and in awe. I can't understand what made that bee land - on a freezing day in January - on my car - among a busy town of parked cars, sidewalks, gardens... and to have been positioned in such an obvious place, and in spite of the wind. I can't imagine why it was a bee, something so personally symbolic. I am left with a sense of hope for 2009. I feel like something great is coming down the line, and I think we're all going to have a great year. I know this was extremely hokey, but (I still haven't slept) I can't stifle how excited this tiny happening made me feel. I hope that this story finds you all well, and onto big things in the new year. Talk to you later, -J |
 |
|
 |
