Much Prefer David Sedaris's Plague of Tics than the Plague of Deer and Dog Tics Affecting the Northeast This Year

I'll never forget the first time I learned that tics were actually real. Yes, I knew stories of Lyme disease and heard about the abundance of the critters on Long Island, but never really experienced one until I moved to Kentucky. Actually, I experience a couple of dozen. I was biking on trails in and out of woods, only to return home to do sit ups (oh, the days of intentional exercise). I noticed all these black dots in between my thighs, and the closer I got to the groin, the more of them were there. I thought they were paint specks and first...but then had to go into total panic mode picking them off, one by one, for quite a while. I was skee'ved. Ick.

I don't have too many tick stories in Syracuse, but have seen more of them in southern Connecticut. This year, though, they're everywhere. All the local dog owners have been complaining and for the past month I've listened to Pam's daily complaints of the number of tics on Walnut Beach. I've pulled a few ticks off myself this year, and now I'm doing it daily on the dogs. 

It's gross. And when you start seeing them, you begin feeling them everywhere. You feel like they're all over your body. 

Of course, whenever I think of a Plague of Tics, I'm reminded of David Sedaris's essay of the same title (which you can listen to on This American Life - I remember reading it for the first time and laughing my ass off). Up until this current insect invasion, I've always associated ticks with his sense of humor and quirks, not blood-sucking bugs). 

I never made to campus yesterday because by the time I responded to emails and the ZOOM meetings ended, it was already 5 p.m. - hopefully I stop by today. I also looked up revolting plants for tics to plant in my yard so they stay away...I have lavender, mint, and marigolds. I now want to invest in lemon grass. 

Blech. They are nightmares, like mosquitoes. And scratching myself all over as I write this.