spring bug(s)

at this time last year i was walking to the local grocery store when i almost stepped on a caterpillar. i caught myself just in time, you'll be glad to know, and gingerly lifted the poor creature off of the sidewalk and out of harm's way.

little did i know that i'd be able to make a career of saving caterpillars within a few short weeks. the city was positively infested with them. they lived in the trees, in cobwebby 'tents', and, when fat, would fall to the ground (or onto my head, or into my open, laughing mouth. you know, that sort of thing). what began as an effort to save one creature, progressed to a general attempt at avoidance, and then further to my indifference, as i waded my way through the hairy jam that smeared the sidewalks.

this year, the plague doesn't seem as bad, but i can still see a lot of them up there in the cherry and apple trees, thrashing around in the sunlight, fattening up for their fall to earth.

i wonder why the birds don't eat them.

i wish they did.