"...and we'd spend hours catching fireflies," a friend wrote in response to a post of mine, talking about heading up to the Midwest for vacation, reminiscing about her own childhood.
We've talked about moving to the midwest, for lots of reasons, as Bay Area residents are sometimes wont to do. We talk about the pros and cons, and we weigh the options.
Another friend recently made the jump--a big deal for her two-mommy family, moving from Oakland to a smaller Midwestern city. We recently emailed back and forth a bit about it.
And in her last email to me, she said "Oh, you must. For all the reasons I said before, and for a new one, just discovered: fireflies! The Bay Area may have the finest restaurants in the nation, but the midwest has fireflies. No contest."
We do, we do, so many fireflies this time of year. Our yard is loaded and the corn and bean fields are like a twinkling sky.
Posted by: Rayne of Terror | June 24, 2006 at 09:31 AM
I would love to move back home (Lawrence, KS.) I never thought I'd say that, but the older Drake gets, the more ideal it seems. I've been working on the husband for months now to move. I just have to get him to crack.
Oh fireflies, or lightning bugs as they were called in my neck of the woods. Sometimes I would catch them and put them in a jar. And sometimes they weren't so lucky. I'd rip their "lights" off and use them like sidewalk chalk. Good times, good times.
Posted by: Mrs. Featherbottom | June 24, 2006 at 01:40 PM
I have never seen so many fireflies as there are this year. maybe because it is so dry here. It can get scarry driving home at night because i don't know if it is all fireflies or animals getting ready to jump in front of my car. they are beautiful and you should live in the midwest. Do it for the children. Think of the children. Don't think of the fact that you would be closer to me and i might get to see the babies for a change. Do it for them. Auntie N
Posted by: Auntie Nancy | June 24, 2006 at 02:49 PM
Oh, Stop all of you! Fire flies, aka lightning bugs...is that a sane reason to move to the midwest where the temps are hot and humid in the summer and freeze your ass off cold in the winter? I think not! If you want to move consider Flagstaff! Cool in the summer and freezing your ass off cold in the winter. At least I would be close enough to visit... say...every weekend? Or so? With the girls? You know the ones I mean...the animal girls. At least consider building a cabin up there I would use it for you. There is a lot of open space now. The Brins fire cleaned out over 3500 acres so far. Think how much fun we could have. We could hike through burned out forest, they have lightning bugs too, (dead now of course) and all kind of cool animals too. We might even encounter a skunk!
Posted by: Grammy | June 25, 2006 at 02:35 PM
Noah calls them "whitening butts". He is fascinated by the way they glow at night. Missouri is a very nice place to live with plenty of fireflies for everyone.
I used to catch them, pull off their lights, and stick them on my skin like jewelry. How barbaric is that?!
Posted by: Renee | June 25, 2006 at 11:18 PM
Oh I miss lighting bugs! The midwest doesn't own them because Alabama had them too!
Posted by: daionara | June 25, 2006 at 11:40 PM
Again i drove home last night and the fireflies were everywhere! Beautiful!!! God's gift to us in the summer. The girls really deserve this.They also deserve one of my Christmases. Think about it. That is all I ask.
Auntie N
Posted by: Auntie Nancy | June 27, 2006 at 09:10 AM
...having transplanted myself from the west coast to Chicago for a few years some time ago, I can say that fireflies come with their own price to pay. Namely bad midwestern summer and winter weather. Flat lands. Old fashion politickin'. Bad fashion. Did I mention the weather? For the love of god, it's not to be f---ed with....
I'm back on our temperate coast, where I belong.
Posted by: fizzle | June 27, 2006 at 10:06 AM