We are spared the cacophony

I started to title this post Do you hear what I hear?” but the fact is, we are not hearing it, and I couldn’t quite figure out how to make the song lyric work.

What is the it?

The deafening calls of these bulgy orange-eyed insects –

the periodical cicadas -- that merge once every 13 or 17 years (I think this year it is supposed to be the 13-year eruption) in these here parts to engage in a frenzied mating orgy for a short period and then disappear again for another 13 (or 17) years.

I first time I heard these creatures was well… 13 years ago (or maybe 17) when I cleaned a house out in the country that was surrounded by woods. I came home very relieved that we did not have any of them at our house – or at least not enough of them to just about drown out the sound of a lawnmower busy in the next yard.

I have been two places in the past few days where there were so many of them that they made enough noise that one had to “speak up” if one wanted to talk outside and be heard. And even though it may not sound that loud on the You-Tube link there -- they really are quite loud.

Again, I came home to blissful silence – well, not quite blissful because the trucks are still roaring past -- but at least not any noisier than usual. Which is why I was very surprised to see this one on the back porch.

I am wondering why no one has thought to make one of those campy “B” horror movies with giant insects featuring this guy (or gal).

I mean, it looks like it could be an alien from outer space.