Peculiarities

We had another good soaking rain yesterday.  No complaints, the gardens needed it.  Pulling weeds after days of intense heat has been like plowing through concrete.  And it was a soft, easy rain.  No thunder or lightning, just a steady patter on the walkway and drive.  Milder temps today, too, (mid-80's) although July in Indiana is famous for it's humidity.  No disappointment there. 

Tobey and I went for a walk this morning and the air felt as if it had already wrapped around us.  We clung to the shady side of the road as much as we could, our shadows tucked tightly beneath us when we breached stretches of sun.

Funny thing about shadows, they change with the seasons.  I don't know if science bears this out, but I've noticed them changing since I was a kid.  They grow a bit longer around mid-September and in October, it almost seems as if they have a flavor-- sort of a spicy peppercorn taste.

By December, the shadows are long and thin and blue.  They resemble frostbit fingers and one gets a sense of numbness from them.  This is especially noticeable around the Solstice and very defined when there's snow on the ground. 

Another thing I started noticing as a kid is the number of days near or below zero degrees is in direct proportion to the number of days near or above 100 degrees.  As silly as it seems, I always thought it was the Universe's way of balancing things out. 

I found myself longing for those long September shadows this morning.  Not that I'm in a hurry to rush through summer-- just had a small wave of nostalgia tinged with the taste of peppercorn.

A Spider Sat Down Besider Her

Hubby, upon leaving the bathroom:  "Is there a reason your loofah is outside the shower and on the floor?"
Me, in my low and logical voice"  "I used it to save a spider."
Hubby, in his married 30 years, no explanations needed voice: "Oh."

I don't kill bugs.  My husband knows it, our kids know it, most of our family and friends know it.  In fact, I actually go out of my way to save bugs.  

Three days ago, before cleaning the bathtub, I chased a spider around with a tissue for five minutes just so I wouldn't accidentally swoosh it down the drain.  Normally, I try to get the little buggers to climb onto a piece of paper or folded towel, but this fella was having none of that.  I carefully caught him in a cup of tissue and then set him free to wander outside.

A little extreme you think?  Perhaps.  But do we get crushed by a giant ogre whenever we get lost?

Painting the fence last week was horrible.  Not because of the 90 degree heat or 85% humidity, but because little critters kept hopping into the paint tray!!  Suicide by whitewash!  Devastating to watch!  And I was complicit..........

I accidentally squished a Daddy Longlegs recently, moving some wood in the garden.  The guilt still lingers.

When my daughter was in fourth grade, part of her science grade was contingent upon submitting a bug collection.  (OMG)  Yes, I'm the wacky mother who wrote a note asking she be excused from the assignment because of my beliefs.  Her teacher was very understanding.  She requested my daughter do a one page report on ten different bugs.  I guarantee Stac learned more about bugs by doing those reports than if she had hunted the poor creatures down and skewered their bodies to cardboard.

Three years later, when my son had the same teacher and the same assignment came home, a note was clipped to it.  "I remember.  Kevin can do the reports." 

I don't know if my kids kill bugs now.  They're all adults with homes of their own.  They follow their own consciences.  I do know they are lovely and caring people.  I hope, hope that still extends to bugs.

PS:   Okay, in full disclosure, I do kill mosquitoes and I put flea & tick medicine on the cat and dog. There's an assault rational at work in those instances.