By Becky Densmore

In the Kingdom of Somewhere-Over-The-Rainbow lived a retired Butterfly Herder.

Her name was Kaleidoscope Blossom.

Butterfly Herders, you see, are revered and rare.

You, alone, can’t just DECIDE to be a Butterfly Herder.

You also must hear the special Butterfly Song.

It’s a magical mix to be certain even though one doesn’t know quite how it works.

One sunny, summer day, KayBee, as our retired Butterfly Herder was known, was tending her beautiful garden, when she heard a buzzing in her ear.

It was a Bee-O-Gram!

An urgent message from the Land of You You!

An All Points Bulletin has been dispatched to look for a SPECIAL Butterfly Herder.

And not just any would do.

You see, the Butterflies in Land of You You are very special Butterflies.

They honor a search for truth and meaning.

All knowing there are many paths to follow.  

No two butterflies will follow the same path!

This makes them very challenging to herd.

Now one other thing about the Land of You You.

If you sneak into the morning mist, being quiet as a whisper, you can spot Unicorns!  

These are mystical creatures who not only hear the Call of Leadership but answer it as well!

Their job, you see, is to be In-The-Know for the Land of You You.     

“Oh my!” said KayBee.

“I just love that Butterfly Herd beyond the mist in Land of You You!

I’ve always admired them and would love the chance to help them.

I know, I know. I’ll answer the call as the Bee-O-Gram requested.”

So KayBee responded and met a Unicorn named Patsy. 

They agreed to meet as Patsy was visiting nearby.   

It was an immediate hit!

They celebrated the universe that connected them!

Together they set off on a grand adventure to the Land of You You.   

Their journey was fraught with uncertainty.

Butterflies from across the kingdom were anxious.

They were emerging from an epic struggle at the Field of COVID.

Many were battle worn and weary.

Some were sad and didn’t even know it, while others were mad, and everyone knew it!

And In Land of You You, the Butterfly Herd was wild too!

Some were flitting to and fro with no direction!

Some were shooting for the moon, maybe landing on a star – now fingers crossed!

And then, some were even nowhere to be found!

Arriving in Land of You You, 

KayBee took a deep breath to steady herself and then got to work.

First, using her Golden Net, she created a Butterfly Sanctuary to cover the land.

It was a safe and secure place where all Butterflies could live and thrive.

KayBee invited all Land of You You Butterflies to gather in this special place.

At first, gathering the Butterflies was fierce work.

Many in the herd were agile and quick!

Some could not see the sense of gathering.

Others couldn’t wait and rushed to be encased in the Golden Net.

Then there were some who were burrowed deep in their cocoons and had to be encouraged!

Oh my! Was it ever hard!

But she never gave up.

She got help from her new friend Rev, a special Butterfly Herder too.

Rev offers magical glitter sprinkles for Butterfly wings.

This helps them become who they are meant to be!

Together, they got so good at Butterfly tending, they could catch them in one hand.

And in some cases, even with one hand tied behind their backs!

And before you knew it, there was a whole Sanctuary filled with Butterflies of all hues!

It was a glorious sight indeed!

Many days and nights passed as the seasons came and went.

Kaleidoscope Blossom showed up day after day to serve in the Land of You You.

And for those many days, she nurtured the Butterfly Sanctuary that her Golden Net brought about.

Meanwhile the Butterflies in Land of You You blossomed under her tender care!

And so goes the story of the wonderful time Kaleidoscope Blossom served in the Land of You You.

She went back to her quiet garden in the Kingdom of Somewhere-Over-The-Rainbow.

Retiring her Golden Net once again.

As for the Land of You You, Kaleidoscope Blossom will forever be remembered with great love and appreciation.

A proclamation was issued and shared throughout the Kingdom.

It proclaimed her to have a special magic that, when applied, Butterflies BLOOM!  

And all the Butterflies from here to there rejoiced in celebration!

All’s well and ends well in the Land of You You.

The End