Yesterday, after a productive afternoon sifting through the organization's historical files, I left work for my monthly volunteer session with Horizons for Homeless Children. It's always a gamble if I'll be there early, on time, or late, so I try to leave work promptly (if not a tinge early) and speed walk to the T. The T is the big gamble in this race.

So, I'm quickly walking to the T, but I decide to call Mom on the cell. Yes, I am one of those annoying people who walk and talk on her cell phones. But I try not to be too loud, and it certainly doesn't keep me from enjoying my surroundings.

As I walked up Worcester Street in the South End I saw something yellow fluttering about -- an absolutely gorgeous butterfly of a kind I'd never before seen. What do I do? With cell phone in one hand, I dig through my bag with the other, searching for my infamous camera. Did you know that it's difficult to talk on a cell, carry a tote bag, and photograph a skittish butterfly at the same time?

It is.

And yet, though the people around me must have thought I was nuts, chasing this butterfly while clutching my tote and cell phone, it was great fun. And I still managed to be early (how that happened I'll never know) to my volunteer gig.

Awesome.