Bugtime Bonding

     Tonight Trey and I caught lightening bugs.

      I, quite possibly, had more fun than he did.  I have vivid memories of doing this same thing when I was a kid.  I didn't have the fancy bug cage that Trey's bugs have.  My bug container was a glass Miracle Whip jar with holes punched through the metal lid.  My sister, Erica, would have her own jar too.  We'd do our best to fill our jars.  I don't remember this as being a competitive sport.  We were very cooperative with these endeavors and would help each other to make sure we got the most lightening bugs possible. Then we would get to take the bug jars to our room at bedtime and watch the glow as we fell asleep.

     Trey and I had the same mission tonight as my sister and I had 25 years ago.  (small pause, because I feel really old after that last sentence.)  The mission started when I revealed to him my Dollar Store Bug Motel find.  Trey was very excited with his new gift and began searching for lightening bugs at about 5pm.  Finally, around 8, I spotted a lightening bug as I was working in the garden.  Trey ran for his Bug Motel as fast as his little legs would carry him.  The hunt was on!  As Erica and I would do so long ago, Trey and I began to run about the yard barefooted.  I'm not sure why lightening bug hunting became a barefooted past time.  I think it has something to do with how nice the grass feels to your feet in the evenings.  It is soft and cool and just the slightest bit damp.  Evening barefoot walking is like a refresher for your tired feet.  That feeling of the blades of grass between my toes is directly linked to memories of night searches for little glowing bugs.
     Some things about lightening bug hunting were different for Trey than they were for me.  Trey's  bug hunt took place in the daylight.  I remember running and stumbling through the yard as dusky skies turned dark.  The low lighting made the hunt all that more exciting to us kids.  I feel sad that because of the time differences now, Trey won't really experience playing like that in the dark.  Despite the amount of sunlight, Trey and I had a wonderful time running and laughing together, trying to catch lightening bugs as they began to flit around the yard.

     I know the Bug Motel looks empty but we did find about a dozen lightening bugs.  Trey put a leaf in with the bugs (in case they get hungry).  He told them each goodnight with the promise of freedom (to find their families) in the morning.  I positioned the Bug Motel on Trey's bedside table.  I tucked him in and kissed him goodnight.  The best part of the night was seeing Trey roll to his side and stare at the bug container with anticipation lighting up his face.
     This is his first night sleeping with bedside bugs.  If I close my eyes, I can almost see myself as a girl, rolling to my side, after being put to bed, to catch a glimpse of the lightening bugs' glow.