Back in our HWS days I had my own similar trauma at the family ranch in Flatbush. I went into our attic barefoot. A dying mouse on a glue trap got stuck to the bottom of my bare foot. I don't do well with in-home rodents.
I read this delightful essay and then went out and took a walk, and what kept going around in my head during most of the walk was, "Little Wee Gecko how do you do, hello, hello, hello, hello ..." So when I got back home, I looked up on YouTube what I thought was only a children's song ("Little Sir Echo," the tune that I was singing) and discovered that Bing Crosby had recorded it. I don't think I had known that. The song goes on to invite the Echo to come over and play, which doesn't quite fit an uninvited guest scenario, but somehow the opening of the song seemed to suit.
My mother always had both cats and dogs. The cats were allowed to go out at will. My mother was also squeamish about many non-domesticated critters. You know where I'm going with this. Whenever I noticed the dogs trying to crawl under the couch, I knew I was the one who would have to kick the dogs out of the room, move the couch out from the wall, squeeze myself behind it and remove the rear half of a bunny rabbit. My mother's last cat specialized in bunnies and--don't ask me why, why would I know--always ate the front half of the bunny and left the rear half under the couch.
Thank you for not killing the gecko and doing your best by the frogs.
"He must miss his friends." He (she?) must be wondering what kind of trouble he's (she's?) in.
We don't have that kind of critter up here in New Jersey, but we take the same 'vessel-and-stiff-cardboard' approach when a wild thing finds itself on the inside of the house. Thank you.
Funny and eloquent, just like some of my favorite songs from a roving troubadour (as in "traveling poet-musicians often of a knightly rank"). A past home in Bethlehem was inviting to brown & gray mice, who would be caught and shown the door. Once identifying and repairing their entry point, they seemed offended and kept chewing their way back in until it was finally barricaded with aluminum -- and the remaining inside squad eventually hit the wall. After the final squatter was released to the front grass, I think I missed their exit interviews as much as did the kids. Thanks for the reverie.
Yes, an in addition to the bats, frogs, lizards and spiders, the exchange rate is very much in your favor!
Not quite out of the woods health wise. Whatever I contracted in the UK (not Covid) is still with me, most annoyingly in the form of hearing impairment. Not permanent. Am being looked after, so it should heal soon.
That was a marvelous essay! Totally enjoyed it! Here in the SC Lowcountry we have tons of little green lizards called green anole (anolis carolinensis). They are often times very tame and if they get into your house they usually seek a live plant to rest on. They are actually delightful. Richard please come to SC again on your next tour whether it be The Grey Eagle in Asheville or elsewhere. Lots of venues in Charleston. Thanks again for this wonderful essay!
Thanks Jimmy. If things shape up as they appear to be shaping up, I may return to the south, somewhat, sometime. Not much of a promise, I know. But I'm working on some stuff.
Glad you liked the essay. I'm really enjoying the essay form. Feels a bit like writing a long letter. Wee geckos unite.
Concerning your essay, you are a terrific writer!! You express yourself so well! I’m not saying that because I want to garner brownie points. Lol. As for the South, you once played at The Roasting Room in Bluffton, SC. That is 45 min from my house. I have never been there, been meaning to go. But at the time I didn’t know anything about it, so I did not attend. Found out after the fact. I am in Spain right now (Sevilla) and you once expressed how much you like licorice. They sell RAW licorice on street corners here similar to sugar cane. Shame you can’t try this. Anyway look forward to seeing you again in the future.
Do all of those wee green critters have Aussie accents?? LOL
My kids had geckos as pets a long time ago, and they will NOT ever bite you unless really, really threatened to the point of fear for their lives. ;)
I personally think they are adorable, and they do not bother me at all, even out and about in a living space (unlike; spiders, centipedes of any variety, or aggressive and/or poisonous snakes).
I can see how the frogs can startle you, given their ability and proclivity to jump high, but also no harm, no foul.
Love the intertwining of the road weariness/constant motion syndrome with the philosophical/existential theme on this one!
Did he try to sell you insurance? Would you have smacked him with the book if he did?
Back in our HWS days I had my own similar trauma at the family ranch in Flatbush. I went into our attic barefoot. A dying mouse on a glue trap got stuck to the bottom of my bare foot. I don't do well with in-home rodents.
That's bad. And that squirrel. Also bad.
It never occurred to me that there would be ranches in Flatbush. But of course there are. It's flat and in the bush.
I've missed these missives.....
Welcome back Judy.
I read this delightful essay and then went out and took a walk, and what kept going around in my head during most of the walk was, "Little Wee Gecko how do you do, hello, hello, hello, hello ..." So when I got back home, I looked up on YouTube what I thought was only a children's song ("Little Sir Echo," the tune that I was singing) and discovered that Bing Crosby had recorded it. I don't think I had known that. The song goes on to invite the Echo to come over and play, which doesn't quite fit an uninvited guest scenario, but somehow the opening of the song seemed to suit.
Richard. Thanks for sparing the little guy. Welcome home.
My mother always had both cats and dogs. The cats were allowed to go out at will. My mother was also squeamish about many non-domesticated critters. You know where I'm going with this. Whenever I noticed the dogs trying to crawl under the couch, I knew I was the one who would have to kick the dogs out of the room, move the couch out from the wall, squeeze myself behind it and remove the rear half of a bunny rabbit. My mother's last cat specialized in bunnies and--don't ask me why, why would I know--always ate the front half of the bunny and left the rear half under the couch.
Thank you for not killing the gecko and doing your best by the frogs.
Bunnies? The front half? And under the couch? That wasn't a cat, that was Satan!
...or at the very least, a Serval ;)
"He must miss his friends." He (she?) must be wondering what kind of trouble he's (she's?) in.
We don't have that kind of critter up here in New Jersey, but we take the same 'vessel-and-stiff-cardboard' approach when a wild thing finds itself on the inside of the house. Thank you.
I've seen foxes (the canine type) right outside my window here in the wilds of central Joyzee.
Funny and eloquent, just like some of my favorite songs from a roving troubadour (as in "traveling poet-musicians often of a knightly rank"). A past home in Bethlehem was inviting to brown & gray mice, who would be caught and shown the door. Once identifying and repairing their entry point, they seemed offended and kept chewing their way back in until it was finally barricaded with aluminum -- and the remaining inside squad eventually hit the wall. After the final squatter was released to the front grass, I think I missed their exit interviews as much as did the kids. Thanks for the reverie.
Thanks John. Never thought of an essay as a kind of reverie. But I guess it is. It's also like writing a letter.
Thank you for sharing this lovely essay!
You're most welcome, Chuck. Thanks for reading.
Sounds like an ad for travel to Argentina !
Glad your back safely and hope you are healthy again!
Yes, an in addition to the bats, frogs, lizards and spiders, the exchange rate is very much in your favor!
Not quite out of the woods health wise. Whatever I contracted in the UK (not Covid) is still with me, most annoyingly in the form of hearing impairment. Not permanent. Am being looked after, so it should heal soon.
Good wishes
That was a marvelous essay! Totally enjoyed it! Here in the SC Lowcountry we have tons of little green lizards called green anole (anolis carolinensis). They are often times very tame and if they get into your house they usually seek a live plant to rest on. They are actually delightful. Richard please come to SC again on your next tour whether it be The Grey Eagle in Asheville or elsewhere. Lots of venues in Charleston. Thanks again for this wonderful essay!
Thanks Jimmy. If things shape up as they appear to be shaping up, I may return to the south, somewhat, sometime. Not much of a promise, I know. But I'm working on some stuff.
Glad you liked the essay. I'm really enjoying the essay form. Feels a bit like writing a long letter. Wee geckos unite.
Concerning your essay, you are a terrific writer!! You express yourself so well! I’m not saying that because I want to garner brownie points. Lol. As for the South, you once played at The Roasting Room in Bluffton, SC. That is 45 min from my house. I have never been there, been meaning to go. But at the time I didn’t know anything about it, so I did not attend. Found out after the fact. I am in Spain right now (Sevilla) and you once expressed how much you like licorice. They sell RAW licorice on street corners here similar to sugar cane. Shame you can’t try this. Anyway look forward to seeing you again in the future.
Anoles are delicate little things, and could not hurt you if they tried (which they wouldn't).
They so fragile they seem as if they would fall apart if you looked at them the wrong way!
We met again today. He ran away.
Great story. It is indeed terrifying to be a Wee Gecko in this new AI world. Let's all get under the couch.
Great essay!
Do all of those wee green critters have Aussie accents?? LOL
My kids had geckos as pets a long time ago, and they will NOT ever bite you unless really, really threatened to the point of fear for their lives. ;)
I personally think they are adorable, and they do not bother me at all, even out and about in a living space (unlike; spiders, centipedes of any variety, or aggressive and/or poisonous snakes).
I can see how the frogs can startle you, given their ability and proclivity to jump high, but also no harm, no foul.
Love the intertwining of the road weariness/constant motion syndrome with the philosophical/existential theme on this one!