Over a week ago, I posted on An Average Jill Facebook Page, how I was watching a monarch chrysalis that I spotted hanging on the underside of our outside patio table. I know the lifecycle of butterflies is commonly demonstrated in classrooms, and captured all over the internet, but I’d never seen it before, and I was fascinated. Unfortunately, I haven’t been eager to provide an update, because the story didn’t end as I had hoped.
Early last week, I checked on the chrysalis just after sunrise. Over preceding days, the once bright green chrysalis had rapidly begun to darken and develop into what looked like a giant raisin. My son added worry that it could be rotting, and suggested that I YouTube the lifecycle of a butterfly; But I wanted to allow the wonder to unfold through my eyes, as if I was nature’s first witness.
I continued to check on the chrysalis each morning and night. I had almost given up hope, until that morning, when I suspected the butterfly was prepared to emerge. I hurried in the house to finish up morning tasks, so I could quickly return to observe the birth.
About an hour later, I came out to find this monarch butterfly fully emerged, dangling from the shell of the broken chrysalis.
“I missed it.” I sighed, referring to the birth.
It was mostly sunny this day, with a gentle breeze that fluttered the impressively patterned wings. I took a moment to marvel at its grace, before accepting the disappointment of missing its miraculous entrance. It wasn’t meant for me to see that day, I resolved.
Unfortunately, that’s not where this story ends…
I eventually gave up waiting for it to take flight, and went back into the house. About 20-minutes later, while at the kitchen sink, I witnessed our cat, Zoey, decide the colorful dangling ornament would be fun to play with.
“Zoey…NO!” I shouted in angst through the kitchen window. In a few short bats of her paw, so went the circle of life.
I wanted to be mad at Zoey, and in those initial moments, I was; But I quickly considered that she was only doing what’s instinctive of her. Still, I was sad for this monarch butterfly that had captivated my attention for nearly two weeks. I had imagined it flying off to taste the nectar of a delicate flower, and finding a mate to repeat the lifecycle.
Life may be cruel at times, but more often it can teach and amaze us. From an egg, to caterpillar, to chrysalis, to a butterfly; the metamorphosis kept me intrigued with wonder, and inspired my curiosity to learn about monarch butterflies. For this, I remain grateful.