The Very Over It Caterpillar NYE2022

                               The Very Over It Caterpillar

Once there was a caterpillar who just... couldn't.

Well, she could, but she just didn't want to.

On the first day, she had an extra cup of coffee, with hazelnut creamer.

But she still just... couldn't.

The next day she had two spoonfuls of organic manuka honey in her yogurt

But she still just... couldn't.

On the third day she took three elderberry tablets and crushed them into her organic manuka yogurt and honey,

But she still just... couldn't.

The next day was Chanukah, and she eschewed the heavy fried latkes that might bring her down, and she ate four baked zucchini latkes instead because zucchini is an upbeat vegetable.

But she still just... couldn't.

On the fifth day, she smoked a little weed.

And then she could, but she couldn't remember what, exactly, it was that she could.

On the sixth day, she had a headache, so she didn't need to. That was a good day.

On the seventh day, she sat quietly. She looked at her dogs, napping by the fire.

She found the lemon verbena moisturizing cream she had been saving for - she didn't know for what - and slathered it on her hands. And then on her elbows, which had been bugging her because they were so scratchy and rough that they got caught on the sleeves of her organic cotton Pact tee shirts and pulled at the threads.

She finished off the zucchini latkes and the weed, only not in that order. And she fell asleep next to the dogs.

And when she woke up, she expected she'd be a butterfly, but she was still a caterpillar. Still a Very Over It Caterpillar.

And that was totally cool with her.

Because, after thinking about it, she decided she wanted to be a caterpillar for a while longer. Just doing her thing, moving slowly, keeping low to the ground. Earth-tone hoody and comfy slippers.

And who knows, maybe next year, or at some point later, she'll emerge as a butterfly and show the world her beautiful colors. But for now, no.

Because sometimes it's just been that kind of year. Which is cool.

Here's to 2023.