fireflies? Risk vs. Reward?

There is a "hit" song out by Owl City entitled "fireflies.". I use the term hit loosely as I can't quite understand how it is a hit... It's near the top of the charts on itunes and it's played all over XM/sirius..

My music sense must be off.. I'm a midwestern gal, who actually loves fireflies. I am fascinated by the history behind them and how it is the males that "blink" in order to attract a female and the female "mimics" the blink..not too different from "flirtations" and how people tend to mimic those they like.. Reality check, I've always been more intrigued in placing them in a mason jar with a few blades of grass and holes in the top (so they could breathe..the fireflies NOT people what do on Earthshmya do you take me for?)...such the humanitarian ... Or insectarian... I must have thought I was giving these fireflies a better life..as if I were sparing them from life outside of captivity, as if I were saving them from other ogres (children) who would dissect the "glowing" section and make it into a ring...sparkly! I can't believe I did that to an unfortunate firefly or two (hundred).. I didn't comprehend what I was doing (serial insect killer). I swear on my David Wright autographed baseball that I didn't mean any harm and that I rather- really-truly preferred to trap them in my mason jar and play "two if by sea.". Unleash, inner-Paul Revere.

Why am I writing this bloggery about fireflies? Well, the silly song that I can't place whether the intro belongs in a kiddie - television show or in outerspace (ironically my protestations seem foolish...it's about fireflies..what could I expect....however, it also makes me smile a little...because it was recent that my youth came back to me. I was walking on a summer night with a friend and I yanked a firefly clear out of mid air..it was flickering in the humid atmosphere...I swiped him and opened my fist..as it shown it's golden light..a glimmer of pride came across my friend's eyes and a smile as well, "that's the Iowa in you..."

"Yes, yes it is..". And I let the firefly go...to shine on another day and live the life free from my grasp and free from my opinion of the life that it should live. Sometimes that's what we need to do with our own lives and others hearts, turn it over unto something greater than us (and by that I don't necessarily mean God, but the belief that we are never really alone, surrounded by others...friends andfamily). Maybe we can dictate some things, mostly we can't understand everything. Maybe, that firefly will come back, maybe the firefly won't but we can take solace that we were lucky enough to witness a spark like a firefly in our own brief lifes.

A lot of people, obviously, love Fireflies (the song), I love the real things...not so much the song. Nothing wrong with that... Besides, the silver lining (and it's not thin)...is the memories of fireflies in my youth and in my grownup life and hopefully they abound and surround me in my future. Fireflies release their light and in that there is risk! They release that light and those that prey on them may see that, however the one that they wish to love them may also see their light and be drawn to them. It's like that risky new job, that bucket list, that trial by fire. Therefore, as cliche as it may be (and this whole blog no doubtedly is), it's pretty cool that they risk everything for that love...
Okay, it's likely nothing they control..it's purely a reproduction thing/mad science. Nah, that is so pessimistic! At least we aren't like that or we humanoids should not be like that!! I think it's still a risk, I bet some shine brighter than others! Just like some of those around us shine brighter than others. We are fortunate to get the choice to pick those people whom we want next to us on our short trip on this planet. You can be born into wealth of comfort in monetary wealth...you can live in a grand mansion, you can drive a ferrarri and you can circumnavigate the globe staying in the penthouse suite of the Ritz Carlton, but you cannot be born into the wealth of true friendship and commradery..that is earned and cannot be cheapened nor cheated. Friends are always free to go, there is nothing to keep them near aside from their own desire and want.
The most intriguing and interesting things in our life can develop from small things like fireflies. I know a little part of me hopes that if there exists larger ogre in this world/galaxy (whatever it is we live it) that if he/she/it/they/them..that if they grasp hold of me and the light goes dark around me that perhaps it is because my light is so bright that they want to capture it for a second because they too wonder just how I manage to glow, and just maybe they will release me again because they wish to see me blink and shine and glow and burn in the night until I just can't do it any longer, maybe they will set me free..

Because...I, myself, have never done too well in captivity. BURN baby BURN!