special waterbug poem and dragonfly bracelets

The Water Bug

Down below the surface of a quiet pond lived a little colony of water bugs. They were a happy
colony, living far away from the sun. For many months they were very busy, scurrying over the
soft mud on the bottom of the pond. They did notice that every once in a while one of their
colony seemed to lose interest in going about with its friends. Clinging to the stem of a pond
lily it gradually moved out of sight and was seen no more. "Look" said one of the water bugs to
another,"one of our colony is climbing up the lily stalk. Where do you think she is going?"
up,up,up it slowly went.... Even as they watched, the water bug disappeared from sight. It's
friends waited and waited but she never returned. "That's funny!" said one water bug to
another..."wasn't she happy here?' asked a second...."Where do you suppose she went?"
wondered a third....no one had an answer. They were greatly puzzled.....

Finally one of the water bugs gathered it's friends together. "I have an idea, how about the
next one of us who climbs up the lily stalk, promises that they will come back and tell us were
he or she went and why!" 'We promise they said solemnly.

One spring day not long after the very water bug who had suggested the plan found himself
climbing up the lily stalk. Up, up, up he went. Before he knew what was happening he had
broken through the surface of the water and fallen into the broad and free lily pad above.

When he awoke, he looked about with surprise....

He couldn't believe what he saw. A startling change had come over his body. His movement
revealed four silver wings and a long tail. Even as he struggled he felt an impulse to move his
wings.... The warmth of the sun soon dried the moisture from his new body. He moved his
wings again and suddenly found himself above the water. He had become a DRAGONFLY!
Swooping a dipping in great curves he flew through the air. He felt exhilarated in the new
atmosphere.

By and by the new dragonfly landed happily on a lily pad to rest. Then it was that he chanced
to look below to the bottom of the pond. Why he was right above his old friends the water
bugs! there they were scurrying around, just as he had been doing some time before. Then
the dragonfly remembered the promise. Without thinking, the dragonfly darted down.
Suddenly he hit the surface of the water and bounced away. Now that he was a dragonfly, he
could no longer go into the water...... "I can't return!" he said in dismay. "At least I tried, But I
can't keep my promise. Even if I could go back not one of the water bugs would know me in my
new body. I guess that I'll just have to wait until they become dragonflies too.
Then they'll understand what has happened to me, and where I went," and the dragonfly
winged off happily into its wonderful new world of sun and air......
Author Unknown

If you are dealing with the loss of a loved one, or know of someone who is,
below are some resources for you to find information and help in dealing with
the loss. Or to help others. The waterbug story came to us because of the
loss of Debbie's daughter and it has become a very special symbol for us. If
you know some one that could benefit from the poem or a bracelet or car
jewel please email us. We want to help others who need to know that they
aren't alone in their struggles.