Scribbled Butterflies

Hey there! It's a wonderful Tuesday, or at least I hope it's wonderful for you. If not, I've got something that can make it a little bit better.

It's this great story that goes a little bit like this:

Once upon a time, there was this farm in the middle of nowhere. I mean, we are talking acres upon acres of plush, rolling, green grass, waving in the wind, against this crystal blue, clear sky. And the barn that sat atop the hill always looked brand new, kept spiffy and painted nicely by the farmer that lived there.

Now this farmer took pride in all of his animals. In fact, he had two star horses that, in his mind, were two of the fastest horses on the planet. I mean, they could outrun anything! Except, maybe...each other. There was black horse named Razzle, and his twin brother, a brown horse named Dazzle.

Anyway, these two horses were on the hilltop one day, just grazing. Dazzle, looking out in the distance, spotted a dandelion, bright yellow, growing up from the ground, dew still dotting its little petals. Dazzle looked at Razzle and said,

"Razzle, we are two of the fastest horses in the world. Let's race to that dandelion and see who is faster." Razzle liked the idea, and they lined up, getting ready to take off...3....2...1...

AND THEY'RE OFF!

First Razzle takes the lead, giving it all he's got, and then Dazzle overtakes him, running faster...Then it's Razzle, and Dazzle, and then Razzle, and then Dazzle, and Razzle and Dazzle and Razzle and Dazzle and Razzle and Dazzle until...phew, Razzle makes it to the dandelion first.

Dazzle kicks at the dirt, frustrated, but admits that Razzle won. Suddenly, he gets an idea, and says, "Hey Razzle...let's have a rematch." Dazzle surely could beat him now, now that they had both run a ways and were fairly tired.

So they lined up again, and BOOM! They were off!

It was neck and neck for a long time at the beginning, but suddenly Dazzle started pulling ahead. He lost his speed however, and Razzle overtook him, but it became a back and forth thing again, and it was Razzle and Dazzle, then Razzle, then Dazzle, and Razzle Dazzle Razzle, Dazzle, Razzle Dazzle, and...

Razzle takes the prize again! Dazzle was a little upset, but, he had to give props to Razzle. He was obviously  the better race horse, I mean no question. So they go back to the barn, get some water, and settle down for the night.

Now, years later, these horses were out on the hilltop again. Razzle was chewing away at the grass, when he looked up and saw far off in the distance, that same dandelion, just as fresh as it was years and years ago, with dew still on the top of it. He swung his head to Dazzle, and said, "Should we race again, for old times' sake?" Dazzle smiled, and said,

"Of course."

So they lined up, and WOWZERS! They're off! It is back and forth the whole time...first it was Razzle, then it was Dazzle, then Razzle, then Dazzle, and Razzle Dazzle Razzle, Dazzle, Razzle Dazzle, and...

Razzle took the prize again! Dazzle, laughing, said, "I always knew you were the better race horse, my friend." Razzle shook his head, and they slowly made their way back to the barn, exhausted.

As they were going through the doors, they saw the farmer's dog laying down in the head, napping. As they came clomping through the entrance, he lazily lifted his head and smiled. "Are you two out there racing again? Who won?"

And Dazzle looked at Razzle, and Razzle looked at Dazzle, and in a very confused voice, Razzle said to Dazzle,

"Did that dog just talk?"

HAHAHA ha ha...ha..ha....No, that was not a waste of your time. It was an important joke that I find extremely hilarious, so go ahead...Laugh.

I know, it's a long one, and it seems like it has no significance. But I mean, it sort of does. Because it was told to me by a good friend, and the joke lifts my spirits.

Sometimes it can seem like we are still listening for no reason. We get to the end of the day, and we think back, and say, "What was the point?". But for me, the story made me smile, at least when I first heard it. And it's one of those joke's where you have to sit back and say, okay. That was kind of funny.

So at the end of the day, when I'm feeling exhausted and stressed, and wondering why I keep going, it's kind of like the ole' Razzle Dazzle. I have to think about the day like a gift given to me by a Good Friend, an attempt to make me see the good things, to make me smile, and laugh. Because that's what each day is...no, not a joke. But a story. A story wrapped up and delivered every morning, waiting to be told, or read, or whatever cheesy metaphor you want to attach to it. Because when you start and end the day with a smile, or at least a little appreciation for the good things, it makes life just a little bit easier.

I hope you can end your day with a smile, today, and that it is a good day, indeed, my Scribbled Butterflies.