Soul Carving

       Though their jade green coverings are striking, shimmering, and studded with gold, somehow the chrysalises blend docilely into their surroundings. Each time I pass them, hanging there quietly upon our kitchen counter, I stop and stare a while. I'm admiring their intricate design, but I'm also reassuring myself that they are still there. They dangle there, gingerly, in complete silence. I scarcely notice them in my own house, I'm certain I'd never detect them if I were walking past them outdoors. They are especially difficult to see while the demands of motherhood are ever-present (and much noisier).        This semester I've been taking a biology course. The instructor is an imaginative man who employs a variety of methods in teaching the concepts, everything from bringing in live termite specimens for observation. to showing clips from Monty Python. It's been an interesting class. One video he showed really got me to th...