Wednesday, August 06, 2008

No Wonder They Give Me the Willies

Alaskan DragonfliesDragonflies that is, not my children--and is it any wonder they give me the willies with those gigantor wings and those big GOOGLY eyes staring me down? David kept this one for a few minutes before letting it go on the deck right in front of me. It must have sensed my fear because as soon as it was released it came straight for me and I had to slam the screen door lickity quick or I'd have been a goner--yet another victim falling prey to the evil dragonfly.

It sat there on the screen door--WAITING FOR ME--for a full hour and a half before deciding that I wasn't stupid enough to open the door. Dragonflies in AlaskaUp at Camp Carlquist outside of Anchorage there's a little house that must be Dragonfly Heaven or something because when I was up there there were thousands and thousands of dragonflies all over the outside, sitting perfectly still in the sunlight, even covering the decking and steps and handrails.

It was like some Hitchcockian nightmare I tell you and I backed away very carefully. I had visions of them all coming after me at once and all anyone would ever find would be my empty shoes and blood-stained clothing standing as a testament to the blood lust of the ugly creatures.

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41 comments:

Suburban Correspondent said...

Oooh, thanks for the nightmare!

Edi said...

I don't like spiders and most creepy crawly things but for some reason I do like dragonflies. I think in part b/c they remind me of my childhood.

Now if a swarm of them was coming at me like the birds in Birds - I'd probably freak out - but a few of them are pretty cool.

Carina said...

Another nice thing about heaven is that it will be willie-free.

The Source said...

That thing looks like a miniature helicopter!

carrie said...

that is hilarious! Not that I mean to laugh at your fear, but we all have such different phobias. I happen to love dragonflies, but I other things freak me out.

I have a friend who gags at the sight of an earthworm.

And I could totally picture your Hitchcock nightmare. Spooky.

One Mom said...

Stalked by a dragonfly! Yikes!

Lapa37 said...

I have never seen a Dragon fly so big and I thought we grew stuff big down south. You should show this on the Camera Critters meme I do on Saturdays if you want the address let me know. The lady who runs it loves dragon flies.She would be mighty impressed with this one.

SarahHub said...

Oh, I have goosebumps just looking at the picture.

You know what's worse than dragonflys? June Bugs. We had them in Oklahoma when I was growing up. Very creepy.

Anonymous said...

I'm so glad I found someone else who is skeeved out by dragonflies! I hate them too and get freaked out when one flies too close. I'm glad you got the screen door closed in time!

Heather said...

They give me the willies too. And mayflies, and spiders...but pretty much all insects because I'm scared they'll fly at me and land on me.

Lori - Queen of Dirty Laundry said...

Okay, here in Texas we have little dainty dragonflies, sort of like fairies flying around. But your dragonfly? YIKES! Heebie Jeebie City!

I have to agree with SarahHub about the awful June Bugs here in Texas. The worst thing is that they have NO sense of balance, and they just fly around randomly, running into things (and people!)

But that dragonfly of yours? Wouldn't want to run into him on a back porch.

Pencil Writer said...

Uhhhhh...I think dragonflies are actually harmless? Well, unless you're a mosquito or a flea. I'm rather impressed with them and all the variety of colors they can be. I like damsel flies even more. They are so dainty--especially by comparison.

Seriously, though, you should reconsider being friends with dragon flies. (I'm ALL for ANYTHING that eats mosquitos and fleas!) Maybe you could export some from your house in Alaska to my house in Louisiana? We have way too many of the offending bloodsuckers around here!

Anonymous said...

THAT IS SO COOL!!! My kids would love to catch that and keep in in their BUG BOX!

AlaneM said...

Woah, that's a whopper! I think they are beautiful myself but they can bite & it hurts!
But I totally have a bug phobia with many other bugs. Right now crane flies are my main nemnisis - they make my skin crawl! They look oddly like a mosquito but with icky, nasty, gangily legs. And the way they fly? All random spazzing out all over the place, you never know where they are headed! Ewwwwwwwww!!!

Anonymous said...

RUN FOR YOUR LIFE!

That thing is bigger than a cat. And I would have thought Alaska would be bug free!

The worst thing about flying bugs is that they seem attracted to my ears! I had a mosquito in there once!

Janet said...

Great heavenly days. I like dragonflies, but ours are nowhere NEAR that big!

Anonymous said...

Um lol! I actually like dragonflies. Ecept when they bite me of course. :)

SimplyAmusingDesigns.com said...

They are quite freaky-deaky. I've never liked them that much.

detroit dog said...

Any chance they might be fishflies? We are inundated with them here annually, usually sometime in July. We are about a mile from the water (river/lake), and the fishflies cover everything; windshield wipers crunch them, they cling to window screens, etc. ugh!

But dragonflies do seem rather pretty.

Ice Cream said...

I've read The Birds. I understand.
*shiver*

Susan from Food Blogga said...

Hah! I absolutely love the expression on his face. Your son's, not the dragonfly. ;)

jean said...

Dear lord that thing is huge! Please tell me that it's just some sort of trick photography and that it really wasn't that big. Mutant bugs, moose poop - what great selling points for Alaska.

Richelle said...

I have seen dragonflies, but nothing that HUGE! Holy cow! That would scare me, too!

Damselfly said...

Hahaha! I *love* dragonflies (and damselflies) -- real and decorative ones. They zoom all over our yard. They are cool because they eat tons of mosquitoes, apparently. (Did you know damselflies have sex in the shape of a heart? Just saying.)

I have to say, though, that dragonfly looks huge. Either it's an illusion of the camera, or that dragonfly is like eight inches long!

Anonymous said...

I feel the same way - but they eat mosquitoes, so they can't be all bad - right?

Daisy said...

Dragonflies can be beautiful, too. Their colors and the way the sun shines through them...if you can look at them for their natural beauty, knowing that they don't bite or sting, maybe the fear will lessen.

Kaza said...

WOW. And I thought they were huge down here in the South (I"m not from here so was surprised by the size when we moved here two years ago). But that dragonfly? EPIC!

Jenna said...

Everything in Alaska seems to benefit from the long days of sunlight...I've seen the size of the flowers, the produce...but even dragonflies? That is seriously scary!

Crystal said...

Oh. My. Gosh! That's the biggest bug I have ever seen! I hate bugs.

ames said...

Wow, that dragonfly is HUGE! I kinda like dragonflies, they're like little machines almost. They also really like to play in the sprinklers. I remember watching dozens of them zoom back and forth through the water when our lawn sprinklers were on.

J said...

I think dragonflies are magical...I love them. But that one there was a bit too big for my liking.

Kristin - The Goat said...

I'm not a dragonfly fan. I don't like them in person or even as cute embroidery on shirts or bags. I'm with you, I would have slammed the door and stayed inside as well!

Killlashandra said...

That is a huge dragonfly! I don't think I've ever seen one that big. I just like to think about all the insects he must be able to eat and 1 less mosquito is ok with me.

Elisa said...

Yowzers!! That is the biggest critter I have ever seen. I think it could carry your son away if you weren't careful!

Anonymous said...

Wow that thing is hughe
--
house cleaning phoenix

Sonja said...

Ha! That dragonfly's out to get you!

Actually, I guess I'm kind of a freak because I think dragonflies are SO fascinating.

I think you may be suffering from the influence of too many mystery/horror novels. :)

Anonymous said...

O.O That thing is about 15x bigger than the dragonflies around here! I'm perfectly fine with our local ones...although they do enjoy the beeline for the face, lol. I think I'd suffer trauma if i met one of those things.

Unknown said...

I had no idea that they could get so HUGE!!!

jubilee said...

Whoa. Didn't they use those things in the "shock and awe" portion of the Iraq War? Would make me duck for cover.

Marie {Make and Takes} said...

That's amazing. How fun to see a dragonfly so close up. Yes, kinda creepy, but how fun for your kids.

Laura said...

Ewwww. I always thought they looked kind of nice. But that gigantic one your son caught looks monstrous! It's huge, and that belly... Ugh. Creaps me out.