I’m very excited again this week to join a talented group of women bloggers in an online, unedited flash mob free write. This week, the word-prompt given to us by our fearless leader Kate Motaung (whose wonderful blog can be found at katemotaung.com) is “celebrate”. My timer is set for 5 minutes; ready, set,

What a wonderful word for today!

While I was sitting at the dining room table this morning, working out the plot of the novel I plan to write, my attention was caught by something fluttering outside the window. I got up to take a closer look and saw that it was a lovely green leaf that was caught in the act of, I presume, falling from the tree branch about 20′ above.

What was so interesting is that it was truly caught. It hovered about 3′ off the ground, dancing lightly in a space of about 8″ square. It didn’t fall to the ground; it didn’t blow sideways. It simply danced.

I went back to my writing and, after about 15 minutes, I glanced up. The leaf was still there, fluttering lightly, mischievously, if you will. Teasing me as it dropped just a few inches and then darted upward again. Over and over.

I smiled, took a sip of my tea, and turned back to the computer.

30 minutes later, the leaf still dances.

Logic says the leaf must certainly be caught in a spiderweb, but one can’t be seen from the window or even from the deck. I checked.

I could go closer. I could walk out into the yard and solve the mystery of how, for almost an hour now, one small leaf has frolicked unconnected to a branch without finally succumbing to gravity’s draw.

But I don’t want to check. I don’t want logic to win and the mystery to be solved.

Instead, I want to live in wonder. I want to embrace the illogical.

I want to celebrate the mystery of the dance.