Dragonflies and Other Marvels of Creation

I managed to get off work today two hours early. I promised a friend I would listen to a webinar at 4, and after an hour, my time was again my own.

I poured myself a second glass of Moscato and sat outside for a bit. The breeze was picking up, the air was a little cooler than usual and I was actually enjoying watching the pine boughs waving hello in the wind when a bright blue dragonfly landed eye level on a stem of lavender I have in a large pot on the deck.

You could not help but notice him. His eyes were the color of the sea and his body a beautiful blue – the same color as azurite. He remained motionless as I stared at him. Another dragonfly came around and he took off in a mad chase to keep the interloper out of his territory. He promptly came back to his perch and again, remained still. I looked away, then looked back and he did the same thing to me. He cocked his head a little. He opened his jaw a little, then looked away again.


My arm was resting on the chair, and a mosquito came and landed on my arm, with intent to cause harm. No sooner had I seen it, the dragonfly pounced on my arm and grabbed the mosquito with his jaws and chomped him down. It all happened so fast I didn't have time to react to bugs landing on me, but it was something I have to say, has never, ever happened to me.

My dad used to "draw" dragonflies to him by spritzing his arm with water, and holding it out for them to land on. Sometimes he would have five or six of the insects on his arm at the same time. I have done that myself, with some success. But this was a first.

I have always loved dragonflies. I have to save them from the screen room and the garage on a weekly basis. According to myth, the dragonfly, in almost every part of the world, is a symbol for change with regard to the perspective of self realization; the change in mental and emotional maturity and the understanding of the deeper meaning of life. The habit of dragonflies flying low across water represents an act of going beyond what’s on the surface and looking into the deeper implications and aspects of life. Heavy, I know. But so much more interesting that the meaning of, let's say, dung beetles. Although, in all honesty, I like them, too.

I have such respect for these little guys. And this electric blue one with the eyes the color of the Mediterranean is going to be the stuff of dreams.