I am noticing as I slow down during this pandemic that small things are moving me greatly. This morning I was walking through my yard in a hurry and was stopped when I almost stepped on a small tail from a Southern Flying Squirrel. I have always wanted to see one flying from tree to tree at night and just haven’t yet. This tiny tail moved me to tears. I thought of the loss of this tail, the tiny animal’s communication with others, helping it balance as it flies from one tree to another.

I held this tail in my hand, and it was so soft, delicate, so flexible and yet fragile. The little tail moved me to create an act of beauty. I circled it with the brightest colored flowers from the garden and placed the tail at the base of a tree I am sure this flying squirrel knew well. It felt good to cry and to honor this little tail today.