There are many seasons during the year to anticipate in Austin. "Summer," for example, is one to be dreaded. But I love "wildflower season." Well, in the last few days, I've realized that it's "cricket season," whatever that means. All I know is that it seems like every year, the city is infested with crickets. They're everywhere, dead and alive, and it's sort of gross, and a bit disconcerting at times.
For example. Tonight I was at the gym and as I was heading out to the pool, I could hear one....LOUD cricket chirps coming from somewhere near the shower area. This is not uncommon during cricket season. (Hearing them chirping indoors, that is.) I feel it necessary to "gear up" for more crickets to come. I remember last year they were especially bad. Yuck.
Last year at the peak of the season, I told everyone it was time to start praying for seagulls. Since not everyone is familiar with Mormon or Utah history, I would explain it, and will briefly again here. Not long after the Mormon pioneers arrived in Utah and started planting food, an infestation of crickets started destroying the crops. After some time and lots of praying, flocks and flocks of seagulls appeared and began eating the crickets. Problem solved! (And the seagull became the state bird.) My favorite response to telling this story last year was one of my friends saying, "Wow...that sounds almost...Biblical." Go figure! :)
So as we gear up for cricket season, just remember to watch your step, and most of all, start praying for the seagulls now.
(P.S. The above is a painting by Minerva Teichert called Miracle of the Gulls.)
5 comments:
Sounds like I left just in time. I really missed you at the service! Also...Minerva is a very good name.
I recall driving across Nevada once. My mother insisted on coming, and we stopped at the Valmy rest area.
We both went in to use our respective restrooms, and while in there we both noticed that there were a lot of smashed bugs. Big smashed bugs. Then we noticed that there were a lot of big live bugs. They were crickets the size of a very fat man's thumb (we think they may have actually been locusts). And they were everywhere.
We both independently decided we should go to the next rest area instead of using that one. It was ... disturbing.
you are reading "To Kill a Mockingbird"? I was just thinking about this book the other day when we were discussing books. :) Good Book. I love that comment of that sounds almost Biblical. :)
I'm sure that insects and rodents serve some greater ecological purpose, but in my opinion the world could do just fine without them. Ugh!
Mostly I can put up with all the grasshoppers and crickets, they at least stay outside up here (unless the cat brings one in). Box Elder bugs on the other hand... those I could quite happily wipe from the surface of the earth.
On a lighter note, nice Minerva Tiechert pic. She does some amazing work!
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