Oleo or Lazarus?

The bug story continues with a new ending

The earlier Oleo stories:

Thursday, I reported that Oleo, my polka-dot wasp moth, was officially deceased. I “called it” at 7:15 am.

Thursday was a hectic morning. Ben had an early doctor’s appointment. When I returned from walking dogs at 7 am, Ben said he believed Oleo was truly gone.

I reached into the box where Oleo was laying on a rose petal. He wasn’t moving. I tickled his antennae and he didn’t move. I touched his legs and his wings. Nothing.

That is when I officially, and here on Weeds & Wildflowers, declared Oleo deceased.

After a fast breakfast, Ben and I left the house. Oleo was still in his box, surrounded by rose petals and leaves.

I delivered Ben to his doctor’s and went to work at a client’s office. Two hours later, we returned home. Unlike my normal routine, I did not drop Ben off at our home and rush off to my next client. I decided to go inside. Ben asked why.

Well, I think I should do something with Oleo’s body.

Like what?

I don’t know. Maybe set him outside on a flower or a plant in our garden.

Inside, Oleo hadn’t moved. His body was in the same position on the rose petal. I picked him up gently, held him in the palm of my right hand, and headed to the office/bedroom door, planning to place his corpse outside.

I thought I saw an antenna move. Then, a leg.

Within seconds, Oleo was standing, swishing his antennae around in the air.

I screamed to Ben:

He’s alive! Oleo is still alive!

Ben came in to see with his own eyes.

Well, I’m not surprised. There is something about you. You hold him and he revives. All our pets feel the same. So do I. You know I’ve always said there is something so wonderful about being next to you, touching you. I can feel horrible but touching you makes me feel better. Even a moth knows it.

I don’t know if what Ben said is true, but Oleo was definitely alive.

I sat for 30 minutes, marveling as he traveled up and down my arms. At one point, he flew from my finger to my neck and then walked around my neck, from front to back!

I had to go to work and put him tenderly back in his box with the roses.

I called in the early evening to let Ben know when I thought I might be home.

He said:

I think Oleo may really be gone this time. He hasn’t moved in hours.

I arrived home at 7:30 pm, expecting the worst. Oleo, unmoving, was under a rose leaf. I tickled his antennae — no response. I touched his legs and wings — no response.

I picked him up and laid him gently in my palm and he started moving. First, antennae, then legs, then wings.

As I sat in my desk chair, he climbed up and down my arms as he did earlier in the day. Then, he flew wobbly across the room, landing on the wall, before falling to the floor.

I returned him to his box but came back two times before going to bed. Each time, he crawled all over my arms and torso. Once, he again tried to fly, falling before reaching a surface.

This morning at 6:55 am, Oleo was, once more, unmoving in his box. I walked our dogs and returned to find him in the same position. As before, I tickled his antennae, legs, and wings — no movement.

I picked him up and life returned. He was soon crawling all over me!

Another busy morning. A fast breakfast and grocery shopping. When we returned home and before I went to work, I checked on Oleo. He was laying next to a rose leaf, motionless, but as before, once he was in the palm of my hand, life returned to him.

I let Oleo play on my body for a few minutes before rushing off to work.

I called home in the late afternoon to let Ben know I was going to try to be home before dark for the first time in more than a week.

He said:

I think your moth is really gone this time. I picked him up and there wasn’t any movement at all.

I arrived home at 5:10 and immediately checked on Oleo. Again, as so many times before, he was lifeless, unmoving, hidden under a rose leaf.

I picked him up tenderly, figuring this was the fourth day with me of his 5-day life span. What could I expect? Since I discovered him frozen at 9:15 am on Monday, he must have been at least a day old, and now, he is four days older.

I held Oleo in my palm and, as much as it shouldn’t have been a surprise, he started to move. Slowly, at first. Then, he was all over my fingers, my hand, my arm. Oleo lives — still!

Today was our garbage/recycle day and Ben was outside bringing in our containers. I walked out with Oleo in my hand. Ben couldn’t believe my moth was still alive. I couldn’t either.

I don’t know what to do with him. The weather is better. It’s 70 degrees right now and tonight will be in the high 40s. I think he could survive. But, I don’t know. I feel guilty for keeping him inside but I don’t know if he can survive outside tonight. I don’t know what to do.

Ben replied:

Well, you said that your research showed he’s at no risk of being eaten by a bird since he looks like a wasp. And, there won’t be freezing temperatures tonight.

I exclaimed:

Are you saying I should let him go? But, I feel so responsible for him! What would you do?

Ben replied:

I’d let him go.

Then, Ben walked into the house.

I stood outside, holding Oleo in the warm sunlight, marveling at the gorgeous incandescent colors on his body and the shimmer of his wings in the light.

To myself, I wished I didn’t have to make a decision. He might make it through the 40-degree night but what about tomorrow night, predicted to be in the 30s? Of course, Saturday would be the end of Oleo’s expected lifespan. But, what if it wasn’t? What if he could survive longer and I let him freeze?

As I stood in the waning evening sunlight, watching Oleo crawl up and down my arms, he took the decision from me.

In one second, Oleo flew away.

None of the faltering flights he made inside.

Without warning, my moth flew high and strong, over the roof of our home into the unknown.

I stood there, flabbergasted, watching my moth — my Lazarus moth that wouldn’t die — flying high, high, and out of sight. How was he doing that? He’d been weak and faltering. How was he flying so strong, so high?

Oleo decided his own fate — no matter what that may be. He decided to be in nature where he belonged.

I can only hope he found some oleander. Maybe, if he is a she, she will lay eggs on an oleander or maybe, have a last feast before his/her 5-days of life expires.

I don’t know Oleo’s final fate but I know he/she chose it. And, that’s the best possible ending for this story.

This evening, I sat on the porch watching the evening light fade, wondering where Oleo was. I wished him well and thanked him for being in my life from Monday at 9:15 am until Friday at 5:30 pm.

And, now, it’s 8:30 pm and I miss that little bugger. But, I know I am a better person for having known my polka-dot wasp moth. He taught me about perseverance and destiny and that love has no boundaries.

Oleo (or, Lazarus!) reminded me of this song because he chose, at the end, to do it his way.