A while back the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette ran a story that would make anyone’s skin crawl. Bedbugs: Itchin’ to settle in with you examined the awful resurgence of this pest–A pest that, thanks to Mom, I never ever feared. First of all, nursery rhymes are meant to entertain children. They should not include real parasites. After a childhood of “don’t let the bedbugs bite” and no evidence of bugs or bites, I’d written it off as a cute impossibility. Now life has turned on me and frankly, it’s disgusting.
On the bright side, while Pittsburgh is on alert, apparently some pest control experts report that my city has lower numbers of bed bugs because Pittsburghers are “homebodies”. We stay put— meaning either it’s really fun here OR we’re too boring to go to the fun places and tote back their bugs. Either way, we can take consolation in the fact that our lack of adventure means we’re not itchin’ to travel any time soon. That should give us plenty of time to find some better nursery rhymes.
Well, look at the bright side – at least you learned to fear the big bad wolf so he won’t sneak up on you!
LOL! Maybe we all should rewrite those rhymes!
Speaking of inaccurate information that was passed down to us as children:
1. Boys are made of rats and snails and puppy dog tails.
2. Girls are made of sugar and spice and everything nice.
Even as a little kid, I thought there was something wrong with that one.