School is out. The pool is open and summertime fun is here again.

While straightening up last week I came upon an old jar.

For anyone else it would simply be that.

A jar with a partially rusted lid with holes in it.

But that jar held within it the sounds and squeals of summers past

     when we would catch fireflies.

Catching fireflies. My mind races back to

  summers in Kansas City, Missouri

      racing across the neighborhood yards clasping my jar

        and being  so proud of that one little firefly that I caught

        even though the other kids could always seem to catch more.

Amazing creatures, aren’t they, as their lights go on and off?

And then my memory goes forward to when my daughter

     was ever so young.

When it began to get dusk

   I’d give her a jar

       and she would giggle and squeal

          as she caught first one

             and then another

               But then the first one would get out before she could get the second one in.

“Be careful when you take off the lid,” I’d say.

But that was hard for such a young one to manage. Those small hands and fingers.

So I’d go beside her

    and together we would quickly take off the lid

        Capture another one

            and fast as lightning

              snap the lid back on.

We’d watch those fireflies light up that jar.

Talking

   Enjoying the night sounds on a warm summer’s eve

      And then

          before going to bed

open the jar and let them all go free.

Summer memories.

Then when I had another little girl

     We taught her how to catch the fireflies

         To marvel at their tiny size

                and the greatness of that light.

The world has changed a lot, hasn’t it?

Cell phones.

Laptops.

But there’s something still amazing to me

    about those little fireflies. I’m struck by wonder as I gaze at them.

You might want to relive your childhood memories by catching some yourself this summer.

The following link will give you some good ideas.

https://www.firefly.org/how-to-catch-fireflies.html

Have fun catching them,

     handle them gently

         and be sure to let them go.

Enjoy some shining moments.

Grab your jar

     Make sure there are tiny holes in the lid.

        And experience the joys of a simple pleasures.

Yes, my jar is all ready for another summer of catching fireflies

and so am I.

Once more my heart is lifted up in thanks to be alive.