this morning #2270.

this morning, as the caterpillar crawled up onto my shoe, i tried not to move. didn’t want to disturb its journey. big guy was maybe five inches long. vibrant green body with rows of spikes jutting out from its back. stunning. a creature from another realm. by the time it’d reached my knee, a crowd had begun to form. a small girl walked up & stood there wide-eyed in front of me watching its creeping progress. “can i pet it?” that’s a darn good question, kid. not sure. then it hit me. can caterpillars be poisonous? in my amazement, i hadn’t even stopped to consider that. crap. isn’t that what bright colors signify in nature? like that bright orange rain forest toad? inside, i started freaking out. outside, i just looked at her & said “i don’t think he likes being touched, hon.”