Copyright 2021 by Lori-Ann Willey
Unfortunately, at the house (on-grid) we have a lot of ticks, and they are nasty little things. If Velcro or a burdock bract could walk, that is what they feel like upon the skin ...just less subtle. This morning, I went out for a nice walk-about the area. My goal was the stay in the open and not walk through the dead stalks of plant life, tall dead grass, under trees, or into the woods. Well, I should've known better, 'cause I can't just walk outside and not investigate or observe something, can't just not touch something, and I just can't not step into the woods either. I did all the above just as I knew I would.
With my tall boots, I knew no tick would crawl up the leg. With a sweatshirt and a snug tank top underneath, I knew a tick wouldn't crawl under there. I pulled my sweatshirt sleeves up, so they were snug around the forearm, so all good there, too. What I didn't do was put on a hat .... I’m always wearing hats, but not this morning. So, as I walked around, I was mindful of that. Yes, ticks will walk on clothing, but I wasn't much worried about them there. Of course, when you are thinking about such awful insects, is when you are more mindful, and "feel" that single strand of hair catch the slightest air current, too. Right? You all know what I'm talking about -hypersensitivity- you notice EVERYTHING.
Once inside, I didn't bother to look for ticks though I should've. I did go into the woods, brushed against trees, limbs, bushes, grass, etc. Ticks are tiny this time of year, so I should've looked about my body, 'cause ideally, that is protocol, but I didn't. After about an hour inside, I felt that all-too-familiar feeling inside my shirt along my bra strap. I had already pulled up my shirt a couple of times as if the tick would somehow magically disappear before I could see it...nothing except for a piece of grass, bark, or a sprill. All false alarms.
So, when I felt that prickly movement at the edge of my bra strap, I stalked that area, too. Knew it had to be a tick that time, cause it felt like it was trying to get under the strap itself. Well, I am wearing a spandex-like bra. I have a few of those I'm all for comfort these days. The one I threw on this morning was at the bottom of the stack. Why that one stood out to me this morning, I don't know 'cause in dim lighting, that gray shouldn't've caught my attention, but it did. I grabbed it in passing and threw it on as I navigated to another room.
After returning from my walk, and after being clothed for several hours, when I felt that prickly walk, I knew it was a tick. Slowly, I pulled back my top so I could sneak upon and stalk the tick. Well, I saw no tick. Huh? Illusive little shit! Just to be sure it wasn’t playing Hide n’ Seek, I pulled back my strap. Not there either. I pulled at this and that, tucked and pushed things around. Nothing. Figured it was, as Paul calls it, "A Frigment of My Imagination".
Of course, after all were put back in place, shirt straightened, another cup of coffee poured, etc. I felt it again. No way was I going to miss it this time. Went through the same process all over again. I found the elusive little friggah!
How was I supposed to know I grabbed a bra I hadn't worn yet? Ever stalk one of those plastic fasteners before? You know, the same kind that they use to fasten socks together with? That was my “tick”. Today was the first time one of those plastic pokes was appreciated by me.
New meaning for "Jeepahs Creepahs"?
