Fire Fly

I remember growing up on the farm in Southeast Missouri where every summer starting this time of year, we would sit outside and watch thousands of Lightning Bugs (Firefly). The family would gather after a long day of working the farm. I remember it being a great time in my life, family being close and life was simple. 

As boys would do; we would catch as many Lightning Bugs as possible and smear the glowing bodies on our faces to play GI Joe Commando. My cousins and I would divide up into teams and start hiding in the orchard or corn field with water guns, working out way around to blast the opposing team and win our game of war.

This week as we sat outside on the upper deck at the big house on 1018 Orchard Hills Drive, it was the first time in years that I have seen so many Lightning Bugs. It was such a wonderful sight, relaxing and memory provoking. I truly felt that I have returned to area of the country that I call home. 

So what exactly are Lightning Bugs (Fireflies)? They are members of a particular family of the Beetle Order. The Firefly Family is technically known as the Lampyridae.

Lightning Bugs are beetles. They can't be "flies" as their name suggests because "flies" are members of the Fly Order. Glow-worms, which produce light similar to Lightning Bugs', also are beetles, but they belong to a different though closely related family, the Phengodidae. There are many Lightning Bug species

Flashing Lightning Bugs are trying to attract mates. Among most but not all species of North American Lightning Bugs, males fly about flashing while females perch on vegetation, usually near the ground. If the female sees a flasher and she's ready to mate she responds by flashing right after the male's last flash. A short flash dialogue takes place as the male flies closer and closer, and then, if all goes well, they mate.

Man, if just half the bugs we saw this week found mates, it was a happy night here in middle Tennessee. Maybe I will capture a few and play GI Joe, wonder if Paul will like to get hit with a water balloon.. hmmmm..

 

 

Keep It Cool

The period known as the "Dog Days" of summer occurs from early July into mid-August. The Romans called this period "dies canincula" or dog days because the Dog Star Sirius rises and sets with the sun during this time. It was their belief the combined effect of the star and the sun was what made it so oppressively warm and humid.

 I got to thinking how did our grandparents deal with the summer heat prior to central air-conditioning.  I remember growing up with large yards and large trees, there was always shade.  The largest Oak tree in the yard always had lawn chairs under it and this was where you would find the family most afternoons and early evenings. Chatting and cleaning the latest garden produce, while the kids would be chasing lightening bugs.

 Houses were built for cross ventilation with windows directly across from each other and the doors. Their homes were always cool with a nice breeze. One trick my grandmother did every summer on her back porch was hang old sheets on the end of the porch eaves and sprayed them with water.  The porch area of her house was always cool in the afternoon with the breeze blowing through the wet sheets. They would do the same with pillow cases over the windows at night.  With the old oscillating fans, I don't recall every being hot while sleeping. 

I typically sleep with 2 fans directed on me and I some nights I still find it difficult to get comfortable and I keep the house at a pleasant 72 degrees.  Maybe its age but I think it is just the fact that we have become so accustomed to the comforts of air-conditioning.  It seems that people adapted to the changing seasons more easily in the past.

It can be argued that air-conditioning has become a center piece of American culture. We seem to have a romance with air-conditioning. For years, Europeans and even some Americans believed that air-conditioning represents all that is wasteful and self-indulgent about Americans. Air-conditioning is and was seen as a luxury without which Americans cannot function. Many Europeans shunned air-conditioning because their summers were mild that is until recently. They did not believe that hot weather was worse than the dry, cold air provided by air-conditioners, and, most importantly, they saw it as a decadent thing that "ugly Americans" demanded.

Air-conditioning has changed our leisure patterns in this country. It makes us less likely to get out and enjoy the weather and one factor in contributing to our stereotypical obesity. I will be the first to admit that some of our technology and comforts have spoiled us as a race capable of adapting to ever changing environment.  I will always try to function as green as I can and to look for the simple ways to maintain my home and environment. I will also draw the line when it comes to my AC. I promise to get out more but must sleep in AC...

So stay cool during these "Dog Days of Summer" in whatever manner suits you and yours.  I would love to be having big trees surrounding me but alas all I have is my AC.

Keep Dancin’ Larry B.