Date: Mon, 23 Jan 2017 15:06:00 -0500
From: “N.A. Booko”
Subject: I saw this moth . . .
Late yesterday afternoon, I noticed a grey moth near the little plug-in nightlight at the kitchen sink. Just sitting there, on the switch plate. Don’t see many moths this time of year. Three mins later, I saw that it had shifted position and was in a different place.
Moths and spiders I don’t kill- I always try and trap, take outside and release. I have always heard something to the effect-” Their life means everything to them, it means nothing to me”- So, since all living creatures make this old world go round, I’ll go ’round with ’em.
I got my clear glass tumbler and a piece of thin cardboard. Clamp the glass down over the moth, then carefully slide the cardboard on the opening of glass to make sure moth doesn’t escape. I could see that it was in the glass, but not moving at all. Usually they flutter around like mad. It appeared to be dead. I removed the cardboard and the moth lay there, on its back, feet up, dead.
I thought, how could it be? I laid the cardboard down on the table, moth feet still up- I went on about my business- Three hours later, I noticed a grey moth on the wall and there was no moth on the cardboard. A moth playing possum? Had to be. I trapped it again, took outside and it soared like a bird- directly at the porch light, near the door. Did it make it back inside without me noticing? It has happened before. . . .
N.A. Booko
As a child, I loved to the smell of moth balls. I used to walk around with one to sniff. Once, I sniffed too hard and it was pulled into my nose. Panic, horrors- I was lucky and got it out.
They never did smell so wonderful to me after that . . .