I saved a life today...

 

Lita and I went out for one of our daily walks down to the Koi pond and back.  We brought some oatmeal to feed the fish and I brought my camera [as usual].  When we got to the pond, I noticed that there was a dragonfly in the water [that's him in the photo, circled in red] and there was slight movement underneath it, so at first I thought it had died and the fish were eating it [which tugged slightly on my heartstrings, but that's what Nature is all about].  I tossed some oats into the water and the fish immediately swam over to eat.  Then, I noticed that the dragonfly was not dead, but drowning...fluttering hard and going around in a circle, while his backside was slowly sinking farther down in the water.  I ran to find a stick and then stood as close to the edge of the water as possible and kept pulling the water towards me with the stick, which was also pulling the dragonfly closer.  Finally, I could just reach him with the tip of the stick and I held it down close enough that he latched on...clinging on for dear life, as I pulled him from the frigid water.  

 

 He clung to the end of the stick and I walked over to where I could hold him up in a sunny spot and I began blowing on him, ever so softly.  

 At first he didn't respond much and then he started moving his legs and cleaning his face.  I then started rubbing the undersides of his wings with my fingers to remove the water.  I put my sleeve under his tail and he started moving it back and forth and was drying it off.  All the while, I continued to gently blow on him.  

 He slowly started moving his wings and then started to flutter them and then...after about 20 minutes, he flew away.  He flew high into the sky and, as he went, turned several circles, as if to say "Thank you", you saved my life!

I was joyous and full of happiness!!  I started to cry, just remembering how precious life is and how little I had to do to save one.  I would've whistled all the way home, but that's a feat I've never quite mastered and I didn't want to freak Lita out by trying.  

Always remember, Life is Good and Life is worth living, no matter what! 

Love & peace always ~ Kathy

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful citizens
can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." ~ Margaret Mead