Before I begin the bulk of this post, I’d like to make an
announcement of sorts … or maybe it’s just a public service announcement for
anyone wishing to follow this blog. The
posting schedule, hap-hazard though it is, is about to change. In the past I’ve tried to post 1-2 times a
week but only while I’m involved in extensive travel. In order to keep this a little more
consistent, I’ve decided to try to maintain a monthly post. This should make it possible to keep things
going even when the travels are more local or perhaps, dare I say, tame? Since this blog was originally set up to
alert my family to the fact that I’m alive when I travel in places that make
them worry … there will be times when I’ll post more prolifically beyond the
monthly schedule.
I should put a warning near the beginning of this, that if
you are given horrific nightmares by the scuttling scurry of certain arachnids,
this post might not be for you. While I
too have a strong natural aversion to these creatures, I also find it
interesting how they are often both loved and feared all at the same time. Now, on to the post!
Humans have a strange relationship with the creepy crawlies
of this world. Some peoples are, of
course, more squeamish than others, but it seems that closeness tends to equal
comfort … except of course in the case of actual danger, from say poisonous
creepy crawlies. In which case, it would
be those in the know who are most uncomfortable and the unsuspecting tourist
who is indeed at the most risk for lack of squirm.
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| A not so dear friend who paid a visit one night in Atlanta. Upon moving, I thought I was safe … only to find that the Northeast of these United States is also home to the same creatures. Eww. |
Last summer while walking with a friend one night in Atlanta
we noticed a lovely inhabitation of roaches.
It was the night before trash pickup, which I imagine must be a feasting
holiday for these little buggers (meant only in the “bug” sense, not the
British slang … I know nothing of their sexual habits), and as we walked along
they scurried down the sidewalk ahead of us.
Had these beings possessed more fur, and been called something less
revolting like “squirrels” then perhaps we would have invited their escort down
the path. I am not entirely convinced
that roaches carry more disease than mice or rats, but they are certainly more
hated for it.
Walking further down the path we came to a rather
interestingly designed house. While I’m
not quite sure I understand the overall decorative theme that the owner was
going for, there were some beautiful mosaics lining the walkway.
There was a whole series of these tile depictions that were
pretty interesting and it struck me as odd.
On the one hand roaches and slugs are disgusting but even moths and
dragonflies - the often less attractive cousins to butterflies - are perfectly
fine. Why is a snail a delicacy, but a
garden slug a subject of shrieks? They
must have been marginally equivalent before the first man decided … hmmm,
wonder if that’s edible. Something to
ponder as the weather changes and creepy
crawlies look for new places to take refuge ….
