There was a time—not very long ago—when dragons occupied my thoughts; this isn’t unusual. Though dragons aren’t a daily presence in my mind, I do find myself (from time to time) wondering about them. I’ve read about them, many times. I’ve written about them—in non-traditional ways—on occasion. I discovered chin-butting from a group of atypical dragons. They “spit” rather than “breathe” fire…they bob their heads for numerous, complicated reasons, and they’re generally cryptic beings with only tangential interactions with humans. Though I have yet to visit the country of Agara, I’ve been thinking (off and on) about dragons, as depicted in Agaran lore. Unlike most European dragons, the dragons of Agara are…well…something else. In a particular children’s story, one such creature had a toothache. The dragons of Agara are associated with earwigs, for reasons that any Agaran might be able to explain. Earwigs, in Agara, are often called “the promise of dragons,” and are considered rather fortuitous. Agarans aren’t like most people. They like earwigs. Their dragons are prone to common maladies like toothaches and dodgy stomachs. Their earwigs (associated with dragons) are venerated. I thought of dragons when I saw an earwig last week (or was it the week before?) I laughed at the idea of Agaran folklore, and the odd intuitive leaps that Agaran logic seems to take at times. I wondered what sorts of dragons a particular (female) earwig foretold. The earwig in question was a demure little lady: quite shiny and almost cooperative. I managed a few shots of her, though the incomplete photos were the best. She’d just had her calipers polished, I thought, and was leaving them out to dry, before going on with whatever concerns centered her focus. I took this (and other photos) and felt as if I’d accomplished an important deed. For anyone who has ever attempted to photograph earwigs, you’d know that such a feat is, indeed, challenging. Like most insects, earwigs are skittish and not entirely comfortable in the presence of cameras. It’s best to capture them, when they aren’t looking; when they’re leaving their fresh-polished hardware out to dry. I suspect that this image has something to do with dragons; photographs are inspirations, after all, and I’m sure that this image might inspire something. What, I don’t know, but in keeping with various themes I’ve explored in the past, I’m sure that a dragon or two might be involved. Maybe. As always, thank you for viewing, reading, and commenting, and I hope you’re all having a great pre-weekend day. Happy 4th of July for those who celebrate it.