The most wonderful thing happened today! I went down to my parents' house to celebrate Mothers' Day with my mom. We munched on chips and salsa, ate crudite with dip, sipped margaritas and talked while listening to the playlist for the wedding reception (tunes chosen by Alan and me, arranged in proper running order by my brother). The dinner was barbecue from a favorite local restaurant of Mom's which we ate outside on their porch; my parents have this h-u-g-e screened porch on the back of their house, about as big as two normal living rooms, so in addition to a grill and deck chairs, there is a futon, a chiminea, a table with benches, a television, storage cabinets, etc.

After dinner we were all chilling on the porch, sipping beverages and talking, when this tiny male hummingbird, only a little bigger than my thumb, flew in through the door which opens onto the fenced area for the dogs. He was SO GORGEOUS, iridescent green body, red throat, tiny black tailfeathers, little wings going several miles a minute. He flew from wind chime to wind chime on the porch; he let me get very close with the camera but it was the cameraphone, so I'm not sure how well it'll turn out.

The little hummingbird flew from side to side of the porch, kinda bumping into the screens but not seeming too distressed. Mom opened both the other doors of the porch and, without actually waving our hands at him, we tried to slowly, gently shoo him towards freedom. We didn't want to upset him and cause him to injure himself against the screens, so we were standing in screened corners of the porch and walking slowly toward openings, hoping that he'd find his way outside. The whole time, we marveled at the beauty of this tiny creature, his long, black beak, shiny eyes, lovely gleaming feathers.

The little guy flew from one wind chime to another, from one side of the porch all the way across, but every time, he'd miss the open doors by a foot or so. We decided to leave him alone for a while to let him rest; the last thing we wanted was to upset him and have him hurt himself so he found a spot in the latticework and we lounged around, conversing. Occasionally, we'd look over at the hummingbird and comment upon his plumage.

After 15 minutes or so, we heard the low buzzing sound of the hummingbird's wings. My dad, sitting opposite me, had a perfect view and tells me that the little guy launched from the latticework above and arced down straight toward me. All I knew was that I suddenly felt a tiny, soft *thwap!* on my chest. I looked down, and the tiny little hummingbird had landed on the side of my right breast. I said, "Hey there, little fellow!" and cupped my hand around him.

His tiny wings fluttered against my palm and he looked up at me, perfectly calm, as I got up from the futon and walked across the porch, out the door and down a few steps into the yard. I moved my hand and said, "There you go, all free!" but instead of flying away, he sat there, tiny claws in my t-shirt, black eyes looking up at me. I rubbed one finger over his wee little head and waited. He hung there, seemingly in no hurry to go anywhere. I stuck my left hand underneath my t-shirt, underneath where he was perched, and gave him a gentle push. Then, he flew away to one of the huge oak trees in the backyard.

One of the coolest things that's ever happened to me - nobody I know has ever petted a hummingbird - or had one use her for a landing pad. My dad said, in regard to the hummingbird flying to perch on my...er, not exactly miniscule chest area, "He was, like, 'Whoa, cool! An aircraft carrier!'" But still, parental jokes aside (and it's his fault I have big boobs, I get them from my gramma Harriett who's his mother) - that hummingbird moment was one of The. Coolest. Things. Ever.