What power could a moth have in a world where bigger is better? Puny, slow, stupid, it’s no wonder they’re always committing accidental suicide by means of burning-hot outdoor lightbulb. Realize how lucky you are to not be a moth, but don’t let that good feeling turn into overconfidence. Never underestimate the power of even the smallest creatures; kill them before they get you first.
One evening, a moth flew into my apartment and perched itself strategically out of site. It sat still and maybe took a nap.
Several hours later, I was dog tired after a long day. Sporting tube socks, undies, and one of the uncool T-shirts I only wear to bed, I turned out the lights and let my heavy head sink into the soft pillow.
I live in a one-room, studio apartment. My two cats, Bruce and Samantha, are considerate and politely refrain from walking across me when I’m sleeping, at least until they feel it’s time for me to wake, at daybreak, but this night was different. No sooner had my eyelids shut than paws were running across me like I was in the path of some mad, indoor stampede. Something was inspiring the cats to jump and run.
“What the hell?” I turned the bedside light on and saw that both cats had their attention fixated high on the wall. The moth had come out of hiding.
Mr. Moth felt that midnight was the prime time to awaken and flap his wings stupidly around my apartment. The cats, being cats, were compelled to hunt. Me? I was compelled to wait until the cats caught Mr. Moth before I could get any shut-eye.
With my head fuzzy and half asleep, in tube socks, undies, and uncool T-shirt, I joined the moth hunt. Unlike the cats, I had no intention of eating the little dude, just setting him free outside, where a bird might finish him off. Mr. Moth – now happily at the center of attention – did his thing, flying randomly from wall to wall, for no other reason than to see me and the cats jumped over the couch, the computer, and each other in pursuit.
After finally catching the moth and releasing him outside, I lay in bed for an hour, eyes wide open, trying to make sense of the whole episode. What had been the Moth’s intentions? Was it all a dare from his buddies? A political statement? Some sort of thrill seeker? Who knows, but for a few glorious moments, Mr. Moth truly lived his life like a candle in the wind.