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A confession: Many years ago, my husband and I visited a friend's cottage up north. The mosquitoes were out in full force, and a rather noisy one broke into our bedroom, keeping me awake (although my husband slept on). I turned on the light, but was unable to find the source of that irritating "zzzz". Then I remembered: mosquitoes only bite once (a myth, I've since discovered). I was desperate -- a sacrifice would have to be made. I placed my husband's arm gently on top of the covers, and I ducked underneath. Note: this was before West Nile Virus. Soon, the buzzing stopped, and I slept. Years later, when I told my husband and friends this story, he was kind of surprised that I could be so ... so selfish and cruel. Our friends thought it was hilarious.And on a unrelated topic: I've always wondered where moths hung out before electricity.
10 comments:
I would have simply told my husband that between the two of us...I thought that he'd be the "sweeter" and more tasty one for the mosquito to grab his quick munch and be off. :-)
Yikes, that story reminds me of those killer Algonguin Bay flies up north that crime writer Giles Blunt writes about in his book, The Black Fly Season.
That would have been the perfect response, Georgie. And funny that you should mention Algonquin because the cottage we were staying at was less than an hour away.
There is nothing more annoying than that "invisible" buzz in the night.
I read once that moths used to navigate by the moon, keeping it at a constant angle to them, which is why they fly around lights in a circle.
Nothing like messing with a moth's sense of direction. Poor things.
Dear Lynn:
You have my sympathies...against mosquitoes even the gods fight in vain (to paraphrase Schiller). Also, if cliches are any guide, before electricity moths used to hang out near flames.
Sincerely,
Randolph
Cliches have never steered me wrong before, Randolf. I'll bet the moths appreciate the safety and convenience of electricity just as much as we do.
moths swirled around the candles and lanterns of course, lol, Lynn.... I've actually taken the covers physically off Rob to protect myself while up north several years ago in a Muskoka cottage we rented that was quite drafty & squitoey... don't feel guilty!! For better, for worse...
hope to see you Monday am, off sick yesterday & just starting to feel remotely human again.
Sorry to hear you've been ill, Karla. I wondered why there were strangers behind the counter for the past few days.
I don't like moths. They're pretty and cool, but they have an unnerving tendency to flop towards my face. Not a favorite behavior. Srsly.
On happier note, have Lynn's Aten Chronicle books and CANNOT WAIT to dive in. Hoorah!!!!
I'm so glad you received them. And thanks so much for sending your book, Marietta and the Creeping Nasties, to me, Raggs. I have been taking care of a child with the dreaded flu, so haven't be able to dive in yet.
Regarding moths -- I always try to think of them as the Cinderellas of butterflies.
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