Shedding our shells

Something you may not know about yours truly is that I have a minor obsession with cicadas.  I think they are so interesting.  Ugly and interesting.

The thing that I associate with cicadas with is the heat.  In Pennsylvania, cicadas typically come out in late July & early August and only stay around for a about 4 or 5 weeks.  By "come out" I am referring to the surface, to the the top of the soil.  Cicadas spend years growing and feeding on tree and shrub roots before they surface and make their presence.  We all know when they have arrived by their sound!!

Cicadas like the heat and do most of their singing during the hottest parts of the day.  Only the males have the ability to make this familiar noise.  Their sound is often hypnotic and peaceful.
Many different cultures share this same fascination with this awkward looking creature.  Some look at the cicada as a symbol of reincarnation and fertilization. They shed their skin in the growing process; this is looked at as a sort of reaching enlightening and the growth we do ourselves as humans.

You have to admit they have a coolness about them.  They have remained in existence for thousands of years and with little thought from us in the modern United States.  Every year we take these silly looking things for granted while they nourish families in poverty ridden countries.

I first took an interest in cicadas a few years back when it my generations turn for the 17 year cicada.  WOW!  I am dork, but yes it's true.  There was a much bigger turn out in older neighborhood & developments especially up in Northern Pennsylvania. The 17 year cicada frenzy didn't live up to all the hype.  I don't know what I was hoping for, but I was a little let down.  So now, I look forward to the couple of cicadas that I do see and think of the journey that they have taken (sometimes from as far as 9 ft. underground).

After all, life is about the journey, developing & changing...shedding our shells. 

Potential Early Dismissal...Seriously?!?

Can't sleep so you reap the benefits!

Yesterday afternoon I received an email with the subject line reading: "Potential Early Dismissal".  I knew what it was regarding before I even open it and just shook my head while I read the email.  The gist of the email was that since it was going to be so hot (high of 95 degrees), the district is thinking about making it a half day for students, because the students safety is at risk.

Then, I felt old.  I was saying to myself things like "When I was in school..." & "I remember...".  Granted, I never had to walk to school in a blizzard up hill both ways, but there was a time when we were in school and it was HOT and we dealt with it. 
I went to Catholic School for 12 years and we never had air conditioning.  I remember the teachers in grade school opening all of the windows, pulling down the shades, telling us to put our heads on our desk and 'think cool thoughts'.  Cool thoughts?  If I was anything like I am today I probably over-thought that phrase and was probably imagining what it would be like to meet Kirk Cameron (what?  back then that would've been a REALLY cool thought!).  Cool thoughts?  Hmmm...today it would be Jayson Werth, but anyway, I doubt I was thinking igloos and freeze pops.  My point is those brief periods of mini-meditations of sorts, got us through to the end of the day & the bus ride home.  OH!  The boys, those poor boys had to wear slacks (& in high school those slacks were wool) until the very last day.  Jeez-O-Man.

What has changed in the youth of today?  Are they made of wax?  I understand that a handful of kids may have issues with the heat, but most healthy kids, in my opinion can deal with the season changes as they come.

Since the district sent this memo out to all parents, you know that this will come into fruition; they have already planted the seed...

Just think, it is only June!