A couple of weeks ago, I discovered a katydid nymph perched on the venetian blinds in an upstairs window. I have no idea how it got up there – perhaps it hitchhiked on a pant leg or sleeve. I brought it a slice of Granny Smith apple, and it immediately climbed right on and began to eat. After I carried it downstairs, it was in no hurry to leave the plate, so I let it savor its gourmet dinner of fruit, then set it outside. A day or two later, when I was out on the deck, I felt a tickle on my left arm and looked down to find another miniature katydid. Hello. On closer inspection, I saw that it was tasting my skin as it wandered along my arm. That gave me the opportunity to really lean in and check it out again: the minuscule striped antennae, the partial iridescent green, the long sawtooth legs. Beautiful. Yes, I’m paying attention.
“Attentiveness is the natural prayer of the soul.”
Nicolas Malebranche, French philosopher
The photo of the katydid nymph was taken on 7/6/08.
