Monarch on Joe Pye Weed

It was finally a stay-at-home day, and I spent the cool of the morning sitting in the yard with my book and my camera and the hummingbirds. A lovely monarch came and spent much of that time with us, feasting on the tall, pink joe pye weed. Butterflies always make me think of my sister.

I don't bother taking the phone out with me anymore. On a morning like this, I used to call my big sister or she'd call me, and we'd chat; while I watched the birds and the butterflies, we'd talk about all kinds of things. Plans, maybe. Our next beach trip, in summertime, though summer is growing short.

But she's not there to answer her phone anymore, and I don't know what to do about that. Except not take the phone with me because I know she's not going to call. Every beautiful thing breaks my heart because she can't be here to see it with me. And that's the sad state of affairs from here.

Just sign me,
Broken-hearted in Central Pennsylvania
*sigh*

The soundtrack: Bruce Springsteen, with If I Should Fall Behind.