Looking at clouds

                                                                                                                                                                      I was out in the pool doing my laps followed by floating  on my back looking at clouds. This is one of my favorite activities. I'm a little bottom heavy, so I have to concentrate to keep the posterior afloat and mouth and nose above water so I don't actually drown. I have fallen asleep before but that lasted as long as it takes to gulp in water and choke.As I float around like this, I gain insight to all the worlds problems, pray, plan my next activity and visualize my house magically cleaned while I've been outside.

I'm minding my own business. Ignoring the phones, the barking Captain Morgan expecting me to give him my undivided attention and throw his Squeaking dumb-bell or frisbee, the shouting children next door and the squirrels arguing in the trees. After a decent amount of reflection and relaxation, my fingers are waterlogged and appear to be ready to slough off cuing me I've been in too long. Preparing to end my float time, I lift my head up a little to see if I can see my toes peeking out of the water and what to my horror is there on my stomach, using me for a sunbathing beach on its own personal  island? A Japanese Beetle!! I panic and sink my self, thinking this will break us apart, but it's awful spiny legs are stuck to my stretchy bathing suit and it just goes for a little dive under water. It looks up at me from its submersion and makes a face. I Swat at it while it's under water but it won't get off. We are stuck together. It begins walking upward and panic sets in.

Wishing now that I had a swim partner to help me escape this insect! As the beetle takes a couple of steps upward, it stops and I see its foot is still embedded in the stretchy suit fabric. Only one thing to do. . .

Abandon swim suit! 

It's off in a flash and flung out of the pool. I still feel the bug crawling on my stomach! I grab the discarded suit and start beating it on the ground, slapping it forcefully and leaving wet sloshy marks all over the pavement. I find a stick a poke gingerly at the swim suit.  Surely the bug isn't able to withstand a battle against a hysterical giant and a concrete beating.

Oh, but it did! The horrid thing Wiggles its butt at me, flexes the dents out of its wings and flies away. I'm certain its the same beetle I batted out of the yard last week with the skimmer net, or a close relative checking out my comfy yard as suitable habitat for its kind.

Not the peaceful, calm ending to a delightful float session.  Even writing this makes me a bit anxious. Warning to all you beetles - unless you are in a famous band and want to perform for me, BUG OFF!!