y story took place too many years ago. | was a high

school student, taking Biology 9. The teacher gave us

¥. Rthe task of collecting, pickling, and mounting as many

examples of the Class insecta as we could find. This was a tough
assignment. It was late October and there were few errant, -dazed

insects to be found: Most had gone wherever insects go during

the wintertime. It was impossible. 0s

_» My mother, however, was not to be deterred. She should be the

“Poster Mom" for all those mothers who make certain the

homework gets done, come hell or high water. Together, we. .

scoured the bathtub for Thysanura, (silverfish). We canvassed the. = .

~* neighbourhood dogs ‘or Siphonaptera (flea). But most.
<.. important of all, and most elusive, was Lepidoptera. |.
A (butterfly). pe

eA\ The assignment was nearty due. | was.ready to give”

:

} up, but my mother wasn't. While I was at.school that
day, she finally capturéd one. Can you picture this? My: :-
" mother.rinning down the parkway, waving her butterfly. -. :

as mother is now 90 years.old: Her body. is‘f
yous so. much and I love'h