Written by For our prompt of “Caterpillar” today, I sketched a little monarch caterpillar meeting up with a butterfly. The idea of meeting one’s future self is really intriguing for any species, but the incredible transformation from caterpillar to butterfly is particularly astounding. I’ve always thought it would be cool to have the ability to fly, yet I’m rather certain that this particular superpower isn’t in my own evolutionary future. Still, it’s fun to dream! And since it’s April, my birthday month, I choose to spend the entire month dreaming like when I was a kid. My actual birthday isn’t until next Thursday, and I normally get super excited and have quite a wish list prepared for Philippe each year. This year, however, there wasn’t really anything I wanted. As I grow older, I find myself wanting to do and try more things, but I sort of have all the physical stuff that I want already. Indeed, I have more stuff than I want or need these days, and that will all go soon as part of our upcoming spring cleaning. Perhaps I’m just learning to be a bit more frugal. But truly, my Inner Child doesn’t need that much to be well and truly thrilled!
For example, I will be getting a gooseberry cobbler on the day, which is awesome! That was the one request I could come up with this year. I was thinking about picking gooseberries with my grandmother and it filled me with such joy. This included tasting a gooseberry that I had picked off the bush, and remembering how horrible it tasted. Yet, when it’s transformed into a cobbler or pie it becomes something incredibly delicious. It’s like magic! So, I have requested a touch of that magic this year. Our pup Elliott would rather I have a proper birthday party with lots of people, but he’s way more social than I am. Philippe and I will have a tiny bit of something sweet at the end of each evening and so he’s already learned the word “dessert”. Mostly because he gets a little treat as well each time. Last night, he had disappeared from the living room and we found him waiting in the kitchen. Apparently, we were a bit slow.
The extra sunshine this time of year is very inspiring! Even though I’m getting older, I still feel young at heart. Though I have to renew my driver’s license this week. That means saying goodbye to my younger photo from six years ago and getting whatever happens in the brief moment it takes to snap a new picture. I’m sure that in a few years from now my hair will finish turning gray and my face will have extra wrinkles that weren’t just caused by laughing. I won’t experience the brilliant transformation of a caterpillar turning into a butterfly, but something rather the opposite. That said, on the inside, I know I’ll remain the same. I’ll still be that same kid who wants to experience new things in life and enjoy the little moments that make living so incredibly appealing. And even if I’ll continue to want for less, I’ll still be learning more and more. I’m excited for the journey ahead! I’ve no idea where life will take me in the next ten years, but it will be super fun to find out, when I finally get to meet my future self.
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Decades ago when the first Star Trek movie came out, I remember thinking how old all the actors looked. I recently happened to rewatch part of the movie, and was thinking how young the actors looked, lol. It’s all relative.
haha! So true! They did look young after all in that movie! hehe 😃💕
Charlie I never had any wrinkles or white hairs til I had my cataracts removed. Then I decided I want my cataracts back.
Gorgeous painting! I would not want to fly. If I flew like I walk I would be running into trees and mountains and leaving me-shaped holes.
Happy Easter and Happy Birthday!
😂😂😂😂 You crack me up! Sometimes a blurry world just looks better. 😂😂😂😂 Happy Easter, Linda!
Buona Pasqua to you too Marisela. Italian for Happy Easter. Glad I made you happy!
Thanks so much, Linda! 😃💕 I actually started going gray around 40… was a slower process and then suddenly sped up! lol Yeah, I don’t think I’ve be very agile at flying either come to think of it! Happy Easter!
Wishing you a wonderful birthday week, Charlie!!!
Thanks so much, Mary!! 😃💕
My sweet friend, Charlie! What a gorgeous painting! I love it! 😍😍😍 Just today, just before I sat down to check my email, I looked at the calendar and saw your birthday. 💜 No matter how much gray hair you get or any extra fine lines you may see, you are wonderful! You are one of the loveliest people that I have ever known. Your heart’s beauty shows in your storytelling words and in the stroke of your paintbrush. You are loved, Charlie! We love you! 💜💜💜
Hola, mi amiga! Thanks so much! 😃💕 That’s so sweet of you to say. Yeah, I’ll be 52 next Thursday, but I still feel young! lol It’s all in the mind… we choose how we want to feel in the end. I hope you have a beautiful week ahead. Much love! ❤️
I’m 53, my friend. I wish I wasn’t, but it’s not that bad. 💜
Happy birthday week, Charlie!
There are more April birthdays I hear of than any other month. I’m the 18th and I no longer age as a gift to myself!
Your painting and meeting your future self was a brilliant concept. It’s nice that they both instantly liked one another. I read in a dream book that if you see yourself in a dream, and you both point at the other, that one of you must leave, never to dream with the other again. I like that, because I don’t like to share. But your two pals were happy to spend time with the other, and friendship is always a good thing, whatever the tense.
Here’s to a happy birthday, a delicious dessert, and lots of presents on your special day. Enjoy!
Thanks so much, Fanna! 😃💕 It’s actually our birthday month! hehe I won’t be older officially until the 13th. I never heard that about dreams… that’s so interesting! I hope you have a fabulous birthday… and entire month… as well!
Beautiful painting, Charlie.
Thanks so much, Gary! 😃💕
Happy Birthday Charlie! Hope you receive your touch of magic. Thanks for sharing your thoughts about future self 🙂
Thanks so much, Urvashi! 😃💕
Happy Before Birthday! Loved your art work and even though I have your paint set mine usually don’t turn out quite like yours! Always Great commentary thank you’
Aww thanks so much, Dolly! 😃💕
Nice painting and thoughts. Happy to find something like this.
Thanks so much!! Happy you enjoyed this! 😃💕