A New Creature
Just before the New Year I bought a Vietnamese Walking Stick. Why? Because it was the cheapest thing I could find for the terrarium. I like strange creatures anyway, and these long, gangly insects that hardly move and don’t need anything but blackberry leaves (which grow everywhere year-round in the Pacific Northwest) seemed ideal for my quiet environment.
New Years Eve was pretty good; there were lots of productive reflections about the immensity of the year just passing and all that had happened. I felt like I had grown maybe an inch over the last twelve months in terms of a goal to become more integrated and authentic. But hey, that’s at least some progress – I think.
Then New Year’s Day occurred . . . and darkness and despair seemed to overwhelm everything all over again. I felt like the same helpless, hopeless person I had always been and apparently always would be, with plenty of pain and no gain to speak of. I was ready to throw in the towel and just say that’s it, I give up, I quit, let me out of here forever and ever.
Then I happened to notice the Vietnamese Walking Stick. He had gotten a lot bigger and below him on the ground was a smaller, deflated version of himself. Just like that, with no fanfare, he had molted, popping open his old skin and stepping out of it.
What an amazing feat! And it was all done so quietly, without drama, self-pity or anguish. He just unzipped his former self and emerged ready to continue life as a brand new creature.
And suddenly, I felt better.
Love this. I am a lone most of the time (my husband travels M-Th and our town has 516 people living here). I have 3 chickens, 2 dogs, a miniature parrot and and abundance of life on the lake in front of our house. I swear these days I learn more from the animals than from anything I've ever read. So smart! And who would think you could bring a chicken inside and stuggle with it in front of the TV? If I want to party, I throw cracked corn on the porch. You should see who shows up to hold court.
ReplyDeleteI felt better reading this. Happy new skin:-)
ReplyDeleteOkay, that has to be the coolest thing for us to read right now...you and that Walking Stick have quietly rocked the house! Thanks!
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