A ladybug was flying around my office this afternoon. I wasn't sure how this creature arrived, but suddenly there it was, flying about. I went back to my report, my typing the only sound in the quiet.
Then the ladybug landed, right on the corner of my laptop, where I usually put my wrists while typing. She(ladybugs are all "she" to me) wasn't a red ladybug, like I'm used to. This one was pink, and apparently determined to get my attention. I had to pause in my typing efforts, to avoid disturbing the pink ladybug. I was entranced, work forgotten.
Since I was taking a break, I reached for my glass of water and took a long drink.
And while I was drinking my water, I thought that perhaps my visitor might be thirsty after flying all this way to visit me. I decided that it wouldn't be courteous not to at least offer a sip. I put a small drop of water on my finger and placed it on the laptop near the the pink ladybug, (but not where it would short out anything).
I waited.
When the pink ladybug moved over to the drop of water and seemed to be drinking, I raised my glass in a toast. We sat there, quietly drinking together, insect and human. I watched the pink ladybug finish her drink, wash her mandibles, and then sidle away from the water. She sat quietly on the warmth of my laptop, and I sat quietly in my chair, and all was right with the world at that particular moment.
The phone rang, and the moment was over. I didn't see the pink ladybug fly away, but suddenly she was gone. If she had stayed, I would have attempted to carry her back out into the bright spring day, where she belonged. Instead I whispered, "Thank you," and went back to my reports with a smile.
