Summer days are getting shorter and summer nights are soon becoming just a classic karaoke song. Ice pops are staying on the shelves while back-to-school supplies become a must have. August is ending as pumpkins start to make their way back to front porch steps. Tan lines fade, sunglasses are no longer socially acceptable to wear as headbands, only four months until Christmas. Even though the season change might have some blue, there is one fantastic thing about summer ending: no more mosquitoes.
Mosquitoes, or as I like to call them "Satan's Insects" are the worst part of summer. Worse than any sunburn, worse than melted chocolate in the pocket of a brand new pair of shorts. These blood sucking hell beasts spend three-five months devouring the flesh of it's helpless victims while potentially spreading harmful diseases. Because of it's power to transmit such diseases from host to host, the mosquito has been named one of the most deadliest insects ever. Yellow fever, malaria, West Nile virus and the rapid Zika virus are all just little gems to add to constant itching these pests cause.
If mosquitoes don't kill you, they'll just inconvenience you enough until their little (or big) farewell present decides to leave you alone. When a mosquito bites, they inject an anticoagulant which prevents blood from clotting. The itchy bumps are a side effect, a mini allergic reaction maybe the size of a dime to a quarter. But for those poor souls who are highly allergic to mosquito bites, the bumps can grow to be welts the size of golf balls.
As someone who suffers from being highly allergic to mosquito bites, I can tell you it isn't pretty. No amount of bug spray or clothes can truly prevent a bite. I've worn layers, I've drenched my skin in disgusting smelling sprays. I've lit candles, I've avoided bananas. I've tried every cream, home remedy in the book. Nothing truly prevents or eases a mosquito bite. To survive a day without a new mosquito bite in the summer is a victory.
I've been bit almost everywhere: arms, legs, ears, face, scalp, upper thighs, ankles, the skin between the pointer and middle finger. Every single summer like clockwork my skin becomes a connect the dots of fresh bites and bites that have been turned into scabs from scratching too hard too quickly. My legs are a battleground of scars from past bites gone wrong. As I write this now, I am dealing with a bite on my calf, my shoulder blade, and two on my right thigh. Even though I will miss spending hot days next to cool pools, I will not miss mosquitoes. I will never miss mosquitoes. If they ever made a Bee Movie equivalent to mosquitoes, I wouldn't watch it. I truly am glad to be saying goodbye to mosquito season.
Farewell pesky little vampires. While you spend the next eight-nine months repopulating the earth, I'll be practicing my swatting skills. You will not be missed.
