There’s a cloud of them, forming and re-forming like an angry amoeba. They’re battering the windows like marauding movie zombies.
They. Want. My. Blood.
“But it’s AB,” I yell at them. “My blood is AB-negative. You like it O. O-positive. I read that somewhere.”
It must be my scent. Or the fact I’m now hyperventilating, filling the air with attractive carbon dioxide. It’s the fear factor.
Thanks anyway, all, but you’re not welcome at this table. And I’m not buying what you’re carrying.
I slap at one that hums in my ear. And miss. I flail my arms, flap at my ears.
It’s not that they’re hungry. They have a sweet tooth—or tongue. They more fancy a sweet feast of nectar. No, these are more likely frantic mamas needing my protein for procreation. To nourish their eggs. To save their children. To feed the masses.
Just the other day, I marveled at fireflies and lack of these miniature missiles. It must have been all the rain and the standing water that caused a population explosion.
Why did God make mosquitoes, anyway? I googled that question and got 221,000 hits. If I get more sophisticated with my verbiage and ask why did He create them, I get only 104,000 hits.
I discover there are more than 3000 species of these critters, and if you believe in evolution, they used to be three times larger. So they can sneak in under radar?
An article in the Christian Courier states, “Some ancient pagans believed that mosquitoes are reincarnated humans who were evil in the way they lived. Though there is no truth to the notion of reincarnation, there are some blood-sucking humans who would make good mosquitoes in another world!”
That takes us back to my zombie theory.
I read that a mosquito is a little fly with wings that reveal their blood vessels and that beat about a thousand times a second. Yeah, okay. So God’s pretty creative with his designs.
Fine. But they need to fly away into a frog’s mouth. Or a fish’s. Stay away from bats, though. We’ve had our fill of those.
I scratch my knee and reach for the bottle of hand sanitizer in my glove compartment. The grandgirl’s daycare person taught me about its anti-itch properties. I squirt some on the rising welt, lightly rub some in and let a dribble of the cool liquid run down my leg.
The kamikaze mama makes another dive, her dangly legs trailing behind her. (Did you know that “kamikaze” means “divine wind?”)? “I’m sorry for your children,” I say. And this time I don’t miss. I splat her on my arm. Then I press pedal to metal to escape the mama masses.
God, you said it was all good. Very good. But are you sure the mosquito wasn’t a mistake?
(more of these, please)
Madeleine L’Engle wrote, “When I am constantly running there is no time for being. When there is no time for being there is no time for listening. I will never understand the silent dying of the green pie-apple tree if I do not slow down and listen…”
For the next several weeks I’m going to intentionally practice slowing down, becoming mindful in place. I don’t have time for it in this season’s life chaos, which is exactly why I needed to enroll Tweetspeak Poetry’s online workshop of that name. I think they designed it with me in mind. This is a reflection from our third writing assignment, to focus on a single thing or being that catches our attention.
In the stillness (and the silliness),
Sandy
With Laura and Jennifer
*grin* I have many childhood memories (or is it nightmares) of trying to sleep before our bedrooms were air-conditioned while an elusive skeeter or two buzzed around me. They do add to the misery of our swampy summers – always at their worst at dawn and dusk – the relatively cooler and enjoyable times of day. I take comfort in believing that God created skeeters to feed the more delightful dragonflies.
Well, there’s that.
These things are around 24/7 right now. A horde of them waits for us to open the door.
I’ve often wondered the same thing, Sandra, when it comes to mosquitoes. They, unfortunately, love me! Then I try to remember they are part of a vast and intricate food chain which serves its purpose from the lowest to highest niche. Doesn’t make the itch from a bite go away, but at least I’ve gained some perspective. 🙂
Blessings!
Well, if *I* had created the food chain, I would have rearranged some things. 😉
Sitting outside to listen. You’re a brave one, given the conditions. Your intentionality carries echoes of God in the Yard (that Tweetspeak lady, she’s a smart one.)
I concur with the evil mosquito theory, Sandy. Thank you for the smiles……
Ha. The sitting doesn’t last long. I rock in a chair… very fast. 🙂
We spent 6 days in the wilds of Wisconsin with nary a skeeta. Came back home to Indiana and couldn’t stand in the driveway long enough to set off DIY fireworks without being eaten alive!
It’s making it a little difficult to enjoy summer. We just bought a new patio set with a turquoise umbrella, and we may have to wait until fall to enjoy it. Fall… when the bees are busy and thirsty…
What a fun post!
But I’m sure your experiential research was NOT fun.
Nope, I don’t understand the value of those annoying little critters either!
There are some others I’m going to be asking God about, too…
Oh my, I really need to slow down, to see and to soak in all of life. Thank you for your words. I know this is so vital. I am visiting you from the Laura Bogess site. I would love for you to join the #RaRalinkup today with Purposeful Faith if you are available; it would be a joy to have you.
Oh, I’m so glad to see you here, Kelly. I’ve just come from scrolling through your beautiful blog. I’m not sure this post would be considered inspiring or motivational, but maybe I can find one that fits the spirit of your linkup. 😉 Thanks so much for the invite.
I can hear myself here. Hehe. Sometimes I wonder why God created some creatures that I don’t see a purpose for. But well, He knows better. 🙂
It is pretty amazing that all things depend on another. But I’m not real keen on the idea of mosquitoes depending on me. 😉
Myabe God created mosquitoes to give the creator of benadryl spray a purpose!!!! One day, we will have all these answers. Until them, I’m spraying away!!!
Well, duh! Why didn’t I think of that?
Uh. Yeah. Lots of ’em here on the island and they seem to love my flappy upper arms. Glad somebody does. 🙂 (But I’m with you – why???)