S is for Skylark

I have a soft spot in my heart for birds. The birds know this, so they stop by pretty regularly for the old bread and stale Cheerios I often throw out on the grass in the backyard.

I'm not sure my husband is so thrilled about the way I toss food around, but I love watching the robins and sparrows and the occasional blue jays and cardinals as they enjoy their snacks. The birds and I have a deal: I feed them, and they sing for me. That's fair, right? There are few sounds I enjoy more than birdsong, especially early in the morning.

Dana and the Skylark, circa 1994
I believe this picture was taken the day I bought the car.

But this post is about one bird in particular: the skylark. Or, rather, it's not. Because as much as I enjoy birds--and the skylark, although I've never seen one, seems like a nice one--this post is about another favorite skylark: my 1990 Buick Skylark, to be exact.

The Skylark was my first car. I bought it when I was in graduate school in 1994. Up until that point, I'd either walked everywhere or bummed rides from friends, so owning this car meant I finally had some real freedom. I drove everywhere, even to places I could have walked to, and I appointed myself the Official Driver for all Graduate School Students in English. (Okay, I didn't do that. But I did drive everyone to Hardee's once.)

I loved that car. It was a blue, four-door sedan with only the tiniest bit of rust, and I drove it until it just about fell apart. The day I traded it in for my second car, a 1995 Buick Century (yes, I see a pattern here!) was a sad, sad day. I have pictures of that moment as well, but let's concentrate on happy things, shall we?

All these years later, I still think about that car. I guess the memory of any first in life is important--even if it is just a vehicle.


What was your first car? Did it have any special meaning for you?

M is for Monarch Butterfly



Monarch Butterfly by Art Planet
Photo courtesy of Public Domain Pictures

I've collected a few things in my life. When I was a kid, I collected Barbies and books. As a teen, I collected candles and books. When I was a little older than a teen, I collected autographs (fun hobby!) and books. (I think there's a pattern here!)

Now that I'm (suddenly) a lot older than a teen, I collect too many books, too much dust, and butterflies, especially those of the monarch variety, which are fairly easy to recognize by their orange and black pattern. Aren't they gorgeous? I love how their colors light up the sky!

Now I should clarify that I don't collect the butterflies themselves but instead choose items with their images--pins, magnets, bookmarks, photos...anything that catches my eye. I started my collection a few years ago when I was going through a rough time in my personal life and needed to remind myself that every day is a fresh start. For me, butterflies represent rebirth. Their metamorphosis from caterpillar to creatures of such great beauty signifies that a new beginning is possible and renews my hope in the future.

I did some research today on the symbolism of butterflies and learned that in some cultures, they are considered to be good luck. In other cultures, they are bad omens, symbols of the horrible luck that is to come. Some view them as a sign that a loved one will soon visit, and others contend that seeing one means that someone in the family will die. Still others say that seeing two butterflies flying together is a symbol of love.

For me, though, the butterfly will always be a reminder that, as Scarlett O'Hara said so well, "Tomorrow is another day"--a day full of hope and promise and another chance at life!


Do you collect anything?  What made you start your collection?

Capturing memories

Today's 100 words:

Sometimes my children say what I think are wonderfully brilliant things, and I always rush to write those things down so I don't forget them. I have slips of paper all over the house inscribed with things the kids have said or stories about the cute and funny things they've done, and one of these days, I'll compile them all in the journals I bought for that purpose. Capturing memories is important to me because my feeble mind has a tendency to forget, and if I don't write things down, they'll be lost forever. I don't want to forget a moment.