A Tale of Two Dorothies

Summer is almost over. Today was perfect: cooler and overcast, no sweat or sunburn on our walk to the grocery store, and the milk didn't sour on the way home.

The day before yesterday was better, between too hot and too cold, too wet and too dry; blue sky, light breeze, beyond perfection.

Nothing much to do, I pocketed the bug spray and we set off for a walk on the trail beside the river. On the way, we saw milkweed pods swelling with silky seed, magenta beebalm fading past its prime, tall solidago at long last offering its golden bribe to honeybees. Soon there will be asters laying out a purple feast for migrant butterflies.

We entered the dappled shade of the forest, quiet except for a greeting from the odd biker and hiker, and people walking dogs like we once did, and dogs walking people like our dog often did. A bit busy, but mostly cool and green and hushed and perfect.

When we had gone far enough but not too far, we turned back. Approaching the bridge, we heard a dad calling his little girl, Dorothy, who had crossed over before him and headed off along the edge of the stream on an adventure of her own with an excited commentary on the things she was seeing. Responding to Daddy's call, she returned to her family on the path just as we arrived.

When little Dorothy saw us she said, "Hello. Are you out for a walk in the forest?" 

My Dorothy switched to kid-talk. "Yes we are. Just like you. And what's your name." 

"My name is Dor-o-thy. What's yours."

"That's my name too."

Squeals of surprise from Dor-o-thy. (Sorry, no audio in this blog. To get it right, it's three syllables:Dor-o-thy. Dorthy won't do.)

Big Dorothy says, "What does your middle name start with?"

"It starts with 'A'. What does your middle name start with?"

"It starts with 'M'."

More happy chatter discloses middle names, Aurora and Marianne.

Beyond perfect.
Two Dorothies met in the woods
delighted by their sameness
and curious about their differences.

You and I can do it too.
Wherever we meet,
whatever we call ourselves,
let's be 
delighted and curious.