Ticks on a Plane
June 2, 2009
Catchy title huh?
It all started when our middle child, Doug, says “Let’s take the 4 wheeler over on your land across the road.”
So we did. Now this piece of property is like the abyss of wooded hell. Under Doug’s guidance I’m driving downhill over 6 and 8 foot trees. (He says we’re able to do this because I quit smoking and gained so much weight that it’s giving us extraordinary momentum). Doug’s got me driving through ruts that would swallow a tractor trailer rig and mowing down saplings like tin soldiers. I notice it sounds like it’s raining. It’s not rain, it’s ticks – they’re all over us.
Doug when he is not driving a 4 wheeler
We get to the bottom of the gully and switch places to go back. Now Doug’s plowing uphill and I’m hanging on for dear life. All the trees we mowed down are now pointing at us – similar to the spearlike trees they used to stop the charging horses in Braveheart (Doug loves that movie, but it has nothing to do with this post). My feet are in the air around Doug’s neck as he drives up “Hamburger Hill’ at 60 mph with the tires spinning inches from my head.
We get back on the road and I’m pulling ticks off me like crazy. Several days later we fly back to El Paso and I am still finding ticks on me. Baby ticks. I think a mommy tick gave birth while sucking my blood.
I am just wondering how many I left on the plane?
June 3rd, 2009 at 2:51 am
First of all, let me thank your son for serving his/our country. He’s Air Force?! My favorite branch of the military.
Keep a careful watch on those ticks. I’ve explored the possibility that I have a minor form of Lyme disease which ticks carry. I’ve met people who it has destroyed their lives. Google up how to know the early warning signs and get to a Lyme literate doctor if you suspect it.
Kirk
MKP brother in Metro Detroit
June 5th, 2009 at 1:09 pm
Haha, thanks Dad, I have not laughed that hard in a long time, Can’t wait to get back and mow down some more saplings
June 8th, 2009 at 7:13 pm
I got this from a reputable source:
Apply a glob of liquid soap to a cotton ball.
Cover the tick with the
soap-soaked cotton ball and swab it for a few seconds (15-20),
the tick will come out on its own and be stuck
to the cotton ball when
you lift it away.
June 8th, 2009 at 7:29 pm
Scott, I will try it next time I am out there.
Thanks,
Bert
January 26th, 2010 at 5:43 pm
That’s one insect the grosses me out, and unfortunatley they’re all over the place here (in Brazil). I’ve never seen one until I got here, they live in the exterior walls of the house we’re staying in, for “fun” my wife picks them out with tweezers and puts them in a 2 liter bottle of water. They’re nasty creatures!