Every 17 Years
I am happy that I live in an area where the 17 year cicadas are emerging. Specifically Brood XIII to show you I have done my research. I just find it amazing that these creatures can live underground for 17 years, all come up at the same time, mate, lay eggs, die, and the new generation go underground...not to appear for another 17 years. I mean come on, is it just me, or is this completely wild? And the sheer number of them is mindboggling. Their noise (ahem, their mating calls - it's funny that all the chatter is from the guys looking for a date) is deafening. I love that they are harmless to humans and we can let them walk on us. It is a very unique feeling having their rather large and sticky legs creeping along on you. I am terribly afraid of anything with a stinger, but these bad boys are pretty cool. My only concern is with my unruly hair, I am not fond of them landing there because cutting one out would dampen my like for them. And I will admit, after having at least 20 of them crawling on you throughout a trip to the zoo, you might feel a little bit creepy-crawly for a while. But still, you have to respect them. What a journey they have! What a reminder that we are all part of a larger universe. Part of something so much more than just our individual lives.
17 years ago in 1990, I was equally as enthralled by them. I lived in Rogers Park (a neighborhood in Chicago, if you don't know) and we didn't have any in our neighborhood, so I took a drive to find them. I was dating my high school sweetheart, and we went together (he drove me, I didn't have my Cordoba yet). Of course I was romantically imagining what life would be like 17 years from then, when the cicadas would reappear. We would be married, have a house, some kids, be happy; you know, the usual girl dream.
Well, to the offspring of the cicadas I saw back then, I say my dreams came true big time. My prince wasn't my high school sweetheart, however. No, but I definitely found my soulmate. And the house part? Check. A beautiful house and it has room for the next part, the kids. Four of them, you cicadas who can lay up to 600 eggs! To you, that's not much, but for many, it's considered a large family. But it is most importantly, a HAPPY family. This time when I think forward to 17 years from now in 2024 (egads), my dreams focus on my family. I hope my triplets, who will be 22, are doing well in life. My 'baby' will be 18, ohmigoodness. Wait, my children will ALL be legal adults?!?! Wow, life will be way different when I see the result of the current reproduction efforts taking place as I type.
I hope for those of you being bombarded by Brood XIII, you find some sort of enriching experience from it. Personally, I think it's pretty incredible. A very unique opportunity to say the least. Here is a picture I took of one:
Now that I see the picture on the screen, I do believe we can call that actual size! So true, I can see how it can be a little freaky at times. To give them due credit, I completely recommend this very neat video on YouTube which goes through their lifecycle. It is very neat and educational:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6I3CNnLdnQc
Simply fascinating! And to the cicada pictured above, I hope me and my entire family meet your offspring 17 years from now...
