Heading to the Butterfly Ball

Catherine was born when her egg hatched on the underside of a milkweed plant in a Rocky Mountain meadow. At first she was about the size of a pin head but grew rapidly over several days in the cool spring air. She had a huge appetite and the more she munched on the delicious milkweed plant leaves the faster she grew. In the early mornings she sipped the fresh dew drops left on the leaves from the night before. She grew so quickly that she had to shed her furry green and black stripped skin several times to grow coats more fitting. She was Catherine the Caterpillar and she was heading to the Butterfly Ball. It was time to dress herself in something more appropriate for a grand ball. She wove herself inside of a silken gossamer dressing chamber attached to the underside of a twig. Inside her chamber she was undergoing an amazing metamorphosis. She grew long delicate legs and majestic orange luminous wings highlighted with dark black markings and white dots. She emerged from her chrysalis a beautiful sight to behold. She was Catherine the Monarch Butterfly and she was heading to the Butterfly Ball.

Catherine was drawn to the same meadow ballroom where her parents had met and danced the previous year. Another spirit was drawn to the ballroom the same day. She was the Artist who came each year to capture the beauty to be found there. This year she brought a little black leather-bond drawing book she had purchased at an estate sale. She had been drawn to the book by some form of attractive energy and when she opened the book she was stunned by the appearance of the pristine woven white pages. They seemingly cried out to be filled with special drawings. When the Artist arrived that warm early summer day the dancing had begun. Butterflies of all different shapes, colors, and sizes were gracefully dancing by the hundreds among a stunning array of wild flowers that adorned the meadow ballroom. Catherine who had also just arrived, noticed a strange creature in the ballroom that she had not previously encountered. She flitted over to the creature and hovered in front of her face. The Artist had the strong sense that she was being invited to join in the dance so she extended a finger to Catherine and whispered "shall we"? Catherine landed lightly on her finger and slowly waved her majestic wings. The Artist waltzed around the meadow with Catherine held high in front of her. Overcome by the magic and beauty of the moment she shed a tear of joy for she was dancing with Catherine the Magnificent at the Butterfly Ball. After several turns and circles, she bowed and thanked Catherine for the dance. Catherine danced away to find her chosen mate and continue the cycle of life.

The Artist took out her new sketch pad and drew reminders she could use to capture her joyful experience. The book was rife with energy and her pencils flowed easily over the pages as she created images of the meadow trees, flowers, and butterflies. They came to life on the pages. As she drew she contemplated how we can be blinded by the mundane matters of everyday life and miss the magic and natural beauty all around us. She returned to her studio with an idea. Skilled in working with glass she selected the pieces needed to create a likeness of Catherine When assembled it glistened with an inner glow. The likeness she then enclosed inside of a hand blown glass ball. That Christmas the Artist presented the Butterfly Ball to her family. As they decorated the Christmas tree the Artist recounted the day she danced with Catherine the Magnificent in the meadow mountain ballroom. The story of Heading to the Butterfly Ball became a Christmas time family tradition that will pass from generation to generation. I am the soulmate of the Artist and I wrote down her story in my little black notebook that I use to capture my thoughts.

Sometime later I found a writing contest challenge that offered a Grand Prize of $20,000. On a whim, I submitted the story of the Butterfly Ball. A month later I was notified that the story was being awarded the Grand Prize! The Artist and I used that amazing award to publish a Children's book about Catherine the Magnificent and the Butterfly Ball. The story is replete with illustrations from the Artist's mysterious sketch book. Our hope is that the story will be read to children all over the world as a reminder that our connection to the natural world and to those we share it with is the most glorious gift of all.