The Caterpillar
So I’m running along in the Parque Kabah, which is finally no longer the Lago Kabah (lake) and is really, truly back to being a park. Though it does still have areas of standing water, aka mosquito nests. But I digress, which may be the point.
Any how. I’m running along. And there are all these butterflies. They are flying in pairs, swooping together and flitting around in dizzying circles that make you feel twisted inside just from trying to watch them.
And I’m thinking how lovely it is. The butterflies everywhere. Almost brushing up against my face. Almost hitting a tree. But never actually hitting anything. Just flitting and fluttering merrily.
As I’m running I’m realizing that, more than usual, there are tons of caterpillars in the path, worming their way along. So then I’m dancing along trying not to step on these caterpillars, these future butterflies, and I’m trying hard to be hit and graced by the present butterflies, but they never meet my challenge.
Then finally my running is over. And I’m stretching. I have one leg up on a hip-high bar. I’m wondering where my flexibility went. And I’m looking down at the foot holding me up, the only foot on the ground. Then a caterpillar comes out of nowhere, well, it comes from over there. And it is coming straight to my one foot on the ground. And it reaches my foot.
So I’m thinking the caterpillar is going to climb up my foot. Neat. But no. It goes under my shoe!? And then I can’t see it. And then I start getting nervous that I’m going to squish it if I shift my weight AT ALL! And I’m so in love with butterflies that I just don’t want to squish this caterpillar/future butterfly that is under my shoe.
It stays under there. And it stays. I’m worried I’ve already squished it. I consider how to shift my weight to the other leg, to the foot up on the bar. I’m sure I will squish my caterpillar if I bring down my other foot and put it on the ground.
So I’m starting to freak out. And I’m starting to talk to this caterpillar, out loud. “Have I killed you? Are you coming out from under my shoe?” And then triumphantly (for me), and rather nonchalantly (for it), the caterpillar comes out from under my shoe. It wiggles along. No harm done. Had a nice break in the shade. Off to greener pastures. See ya.
November 6th, 2008 11:39
Love this post, made me giggle! We went to Parque Kabah for about five seconds yesterday, forgot repellant and therefore we were repelled back to the car rather quickly. The park is looking lovely though! We’ll return with some serious Deet protection. 🙂
November 6th, 2008 18:58
Yes, I carry bug dope in the car. If I screw up and bring the wrong car, the non-bug dope carrying car, I regret it. Right now it’s especially bad. In dry months the mosquitoes aren’t too bad.