Shedding Skin

I've been waiting and wondering when the Texas persimmon in the front yard would get old enough to start shedding its bark and to begin getting its characteristic pale gray-streaked bark. When mature, their trunks look much like crepe myrtles.

While cleaning up a bit today, I discovered that it started! I've been checking for six years, so this was a really cool find. We all change and age, shedding our skins as we grow. Like Texas persimmons, may we all feel that those changes make us more beautiful.

While poking around in the turk's cap, I found a sweet little anolis that was shedding its skin too.

The little guy was very vulnerable actually, not really able to move. I was very careful to not disturb him as he preened and took care of himself to remove his old shell. It felt like I was interrupting a very intimate moment.

Lizards, snakes and other animals go through great transitions and changes such as this. Shedding skin and fur. When butterflies and moths emerge from their pupal phase, they stretch and dry their wings. It's a very vulnerable stage for them.

Humans, too, are vulnerable during times of transition, almost fragile. Life can change through external forces - like losing a loved one, gaining a loved one, moving to a new city - or by internal forces, as our minds and emotions change through age. And we, just as many other animals, require a time, space and gentleness to change.