At the Philadelphia Flower Show Wednesday, my cousin Susan and I chose the opportunity to pay a few extra dollars to enter the BUTTERFLY TENT. And oh, we are SO glad we did because it was simply delightful and marvelous!

Hundreds of butterflies were hanging out on the netting above and around us. With the Q-tips soaked in sugar water which we were provided, we coaxed butterflies onto them, stuck the butterflies onto our clothing and hair, and some found their way to us - such as the one that clung to my hat the entire time. We simply PLAYED with - and watched - these lovely butterflies for a good half hour. It was a really, really cool, fluttery experience!!

Before each person exited the tent, we had to be "de-butterflied" - the assistants working the tent plucked off all butterflies from people's hair and clothing, so none escaped. (One girl had a butterfly stuck to her lip! Another girl had one on her glasses - too funny.)

What lovely and majestic insects are butterflies! They offer such powerful metaphors for life, and can represent signs from our loved ones on the other side. (As can many other things in nature: cardinals, hummingbirds, dragonflies, squirrels - or whatever other heavenly signs you receive often.)

LESSONS FROM A BUTTERFLY

• Find beauty in new beginnings
• Embrace transformation
• Trust the process of change
• Let go of the past
• Have courage to emerge from your cocoon
• Show your true colors
• Find community
• Live in the moment (life is quite short)
• Flutter around often
• Fly freely