On the eve of Brood X

[MissInformation]

The cicadas are starting to emerge. This is the year of the 17 Year Cicada (sometimes referred to as the 17 Year Locust, though they are not related to locusts at all). The cool thing is that I actually got to see one emerge from a sandpit today. The not so cool thing is that most likely by next week, I will not be able to walk from my house to my car without being whapped by at least three. I kid you not; it will be a real invasion. This map shows the areas that will be the most affected.

They do not bite or anything, but they are big and they don't see so well, so they constantly smack into things. Back in 1987 at a yard sale, I saw one fly into a man's mouth as the man was talking (at almost the same time, one flew down my mother's shirt and she proceeded to run screaming across some stranger's yard pulling her shirt off). This year, I have sworn I will be calm. I will not scream like a girly-girl when one lands on me, I'm not even going to try to dodge them: it just won't work. However, I will most likely have a scowl on my face for the next 4-8 weeks and I'll shake my fist and rant at them on a daily basis.

So for those of you in the right areas, are you ready for this guy (or gal) to be your friend?

Heidi

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now going to brood over Brood X