MARIPOSA THE PREMIER BUTTERFLY GALLERY

SINCE THE HOLIDAYS ARE ONCE AGAIN APPROACHING US ALL, AND UNFORTUNATELY, THE STATE OF OUR COUNTRY'S ECONOMY DOES NOT APPEAR AS STRONG AS IN PAST TIMES, PURCHASING GIFTS MIGHT BE DONE VERY "CAREFULLY?"
I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE YOU TO VISIT MY SITE WHEN CONSIDERING GIFTS FOR THE HOLIDAYS, SINCE THERE ARE FEATURED QUITE A LOT OF REASONABLE GIFT ITEMS FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. (http://www.mariposagallery.net/)
THERE ARE MANY RELIGIONS WHICH CONSIDER THE "BUTTERFLY" A SYMBOL OF "A NEW BEGINNING".  I STILL REMEMBER YEARS AGO WHILE VISITING THE DESERT IN CALIFORNIA FOR EASTER AND ATTENDING CHURCH ON EASTER SUNDAY.  A LARGE BUTTERFLY WAS THE PICTURE ON THE PROGRAM FOR THE SERVICES THAT MORNING.  I FOUND THAT INTERESTING.  WHAT A SURPRISE WHEN I PRESENTED THE QUESTION TO SOMEONE IN THE CONGREGATION, "WHY WAS A BUTTERFLY CHOSEN FOR THE COVER OF THE PROGRAM?"  I WAS SURPRISED WHEN TOLD, "OH, YOU DID NOT KNOW? THE BUTTERFLY REPRESENTS THE RESURRECTION!"
WITH TIME I DISCOVERED THIS WAS COMMON IN MANY RELIGIONS.  BUT AFTER GIVING THE SUBJECT MUCH THOUGHT, I FOUND SOMETHING VERY INTERESTING ABOUT THIS CONCEPT.  THE TWO BUTTERFLIES THAT ARE DISPLAYED ABOVE DIED "MORE THAN 25 YEARS AGO!"  AS YOU CAN SEE, THEY REMAIN BEAUTIFUL AND INTACT.  THESE PARTICULAR BUTTERFLIES ARE CALLED, "MORPHO MENELAUS" AND THE LIFESPAN IS "24 HOURS".  IN AREAS OF BRASIL WHERE THEY ORIGINATE, WHEN WALKING IN VARIOUS COUNTRYSIDES, YOU WOULD VIEW HUNDREDS, EVEN THOUSANDS, WHICH HAVE EXPIRED AND FALLEN TO THE GROUND.  (AFTER MATING AND LAYING THEIR EGGS, THEY USUALLY DIE).  THEY DO NOT DISINTEGRATE IN ANY WAY.  THEY REMAIN AT YOU SEE THEM IN THE PICTURE ABOVE.....INTACT AND BEAUTIFUL......FOREVER!                                                               I  REMEMBER READING THE MOST BEAUTIFUL LITTLE STORY ONE DAY ABOUT TWO CATERPILLARS.  THEIR NAMES WERE, JOHN AND HENRY.  THEY WERE VERY, VERY CLOSE FRIENDS.  ONE DAY JOHN LOOKED FOR HIS FRIEND HENRY AND FOUND HIS EMPTY COCOON EMPTY AND CRUSHED.  HE WAS DEVASTATED.  HE BEGAN TO CRY UNCONTROLLABLY, " OOOOH, MY FRIEND IS DEAD!  I CANNOT BELIEVE THIS HAS HAPPENED.... I FEEL SO SAD AND ALONE NOW".  SUDDENLY WITHOUT NOTICE, THE MOST MAGNIFICENTLY BEAUTIFUL BUTTERFLY FLEW OVER JOHN'S HEAD AND LAUGHED OUT LOUD AND CALLED TO JOHN, "JOHN! JOHN! WHY ARE YOU CRYING? WHAT'S GOING ON WITH YOU?"  JOHN REPLIES WITH TEARS RUNNING DOWN HIS FACE, "LEAVE ME ALONE.  MY FRIEND HAS DIED!"  HENRY YELLED BACK, "WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT JOHN??? IT'S ME, HENRY!!!"  JOHN SAID, "GO AWAY YOU CRUEL THING, HOW COULD YOU SAY THAT TO ME? MY FRIEND JOHN IS DEAD AND GONE!"  HENRY CONTINUED TO LAUGH AND FLAP HIS MAGNIFICENT WINGS AND REPLIED, "OH JOHN, SOON YOU WILL UNDERSTAND.  I AM FINE!"

Love and Light!
Marshall