FAR and AWAY: Like all storms, they start off in the distance. Way out there, near the horizon. Funny how they sneak up on you, those far off rumbles before the roar. Dark as lead and just as heavy, a cloud coiffed more than a mile high— big ole cumulus hairdo. Carrying untold tons of water, the strong westerly winds straining to push it along. The cloud grumbling the whole way. From our vantage point, well, moments ago it didn’t even seem to be moving, but here it was, right smack dab in front of us.
But hold on just one minute! That’s not the only thing headed this way! What the? Oh man alive! I’m not believing this. Hundreds, no thousands, no! Make that millions! Monarchs by the millions! Monarchs flying right at us and then all around us. And we’re running with them and they’re riding gusts and drafts of wind. I don’t know who was having more fun, me & my friends or the butterflies. In that moment, all of us, all— as free as the wind. And Mother Nature, hot on our tail.
We ran fast, real fast. But wouldn’t you know it? We couldn’t keep up with those migrant monarchs. Nope, and no sooner than you could say, “hasta la vista,” they were out of here, heading down Mexico way. Us? We were left to play in the warm wetness of the rain. And rain it did— hard, heavy, punishing, pelting rain. Us? We were left to run and jump and splash in the big puddles. Luckily the butterflies got away. They got out of here. They’re safe and hiding out in the hills. But they’ll be back. You can count on it. After a nice hibernation vacation, they’ll turn right around and come back across that border. Risk it all. Generation after generation, year after year, they make the trek. Life’s like that, a journey. No matter if you’re a butterfly or a kid, a boy or a girl., a man or woman. We do what we gotta do, make the long journey to get to wherever we’re going. And like the butterflies, sometimes we get a vacation.
LOCAL PROVISIONS: get the calaminth, Nancy’s sala nova lettuce, Fava beans, heirloom tomatoes, fresh fish including day boat scallops from RI, local sriracha ketchup, bbq sauce too, heirloom eggs, have you tried them?
Peaches, sour cherries, nectarines, apricots, plums, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries.. You know the score. Bulgarian sheep feta, Ben’s cream cheese Make the journey and I’ll see ya when I see ya, along the way.