Oh My Goodness!

Did you ever have an unplanned incredible experience, one that startled then amazed you, AND that you were able to capture with your camera?  As an added bonus, the experience is one that taught you something?

I had just such an experience a mere hour-and-a-half ago.  I am still so giddy with excitement and pride that one would think I’m either drunk or highly caffeinated!

What happened???

It started with a trip to the gas station and the food store.  After pumping gas into my CRV I went inside to purchase my 2 quick pick lottery tickets and found out that I did indeed win $2 a couple weeks ago so today’s quick picks were free.  No biggie but I WON!!! 

At the food store I headed to the registers after completing my shopping only to discover that just 3 registers were open and all of them had lines.  I picked what appeared to be the shortest line and found myself behind a lady using one of those seated carts with a basket in the front.  I asked her if she needed any help unloading it and she smiled, said “no” and thanked me for the offer.

I mentioned that I hoped I hadn’t offended her and she said “no”.   That was the beginning of a great conversation as we waited our turn.  I heard a lady behind me asking a gentleman if that was all he had, he said yes so she told him that he could go in front of her.  I looked back and discovered that the man had 2 gallons of milk, that was it, so I told him he could cut in front of me too.  The seated lady in front of me looked at him and waved him ahead of her as well. 

I think we confused him, or maybe he wasn’t used to nice people, because he really couldn’t believe we’d all let him cut ahead.  He kept asking if we were sure, and he thanked each of us 2 or 3 times.

What an awesome way to start the day!

And that may have set my mood, one in which after unloading the groceries and putting them away, I decided to relax a bit by taking Scarpetto out front for some fresh air.  I cannot begin to tell you how ecstatic I am that we went outdoors, but you’ll understand why shortly…

Scarpetto rolled around on the sidewalk for a bit before he headed to the driveway.  I thought I saw a praying mantis in the driveway but then I wasn’t sure if it was or if the green tube was a curled leaf.  I steered Scarpetto in that direction for a closer look and was quite pleased to find it was the former.

No matter how much I tried to get Scarpetto to see the praying mantis he didn’t so I picked him up and plopped him within inches of it.  Ahh…now he saw it and decided to investigate it quite intimately.

Both my four legged roommate and I jumped into the air when the praying mantis reacted to the wet black nose investigating.  I thought it might jump or fly away, but it didn’t. 

What it did caused me to run inside, drop Scarpetto on the floor leash and all, grab my camera and run back outside, all the while hoping that the praying mantis had not budged.

It hadn’t…

 

Am I the only one who is STUNNED by this???  I had NO idea they had wings, and most colorful ones at that!!!  And the tail, doesn’t that look like a scorpion’s tail???  Let me also mention that he seems to be in “that” pose from the Karate Kid movies.

Because I was using the macro feature on my camera I had to get in close to take a few pictures.  When I did I heard some noise – I’m not sure if this guy was hissing or if he was scraping his tail along the driveway, but there was definitely some noise happening.

I quickly downloaded said pictures to make sure I had truly captured the scene before me.  I resized a couple and e-mailed them to my friend Laura.  I called her immediately because I was so excited I had to see what someone else thought of them.  I literally heard her gasp when she opened the e-mail… 

To quote Laura, these are once in a lifetime shots. 

I agree…