WAG - Day Two: Mother Nature Strikes Back!
There are few things as unique as the itching sensation when your eyes confirm that creeping fear that yes, you bare arm IS making physical concept with Poison Ivy.
“One, two, three leaves,” I counted out loud. “Nope. That’s not Virginia Creeper.”
Yesterday may have been my first day of work this summer, but today was my first day in the field. Coincidentally, that coincided with my reintroduction to poison ivy, wild dogs, and long black snakes.
One of the more surrealistic moments of the day was when I was putting a moth trap up in a city park. I planned to put it in the same general spot, and liked the area because it was usually abandoned and I got to drive over a thin little dam which keeps the city lake from flowing away.
Imagine my surprise when I discovered today was Field Day at the lake.
Cruising down the thin little road, at the posted 10 MPR speed limit, I still saw little kids scramble to get out of the way (even though I was several hundreds of meters away). They didn’t seem too happy to see me – until I passed by and they saw the Missouri Department of Conservation decal on the side of the truck.
For about a minute, I was the coolest guy in Gerald.
Then they got to the swing set – and their estimation of me greatly decreased.
So, I went reverted to my regular "perceived cool level."
It will take a little readjustment period, but brushing up against poison ivy and encountering wild animals is simply an everyday aspect of the job. One may forget, or repress, little details like that (unless one is engaging in an one-upmanship contest for the title of “Roughest Summer Experience.” We’ve all grappled in one of those. In the old days, we’d complain about being drug to some flat, characterless state. No we weigh psychotic customers handled, nutcase bosses/management, or improbable situations faced – and occasionally overcome).
So I’m pretty much saying I’m just warming up. I haven’t been confronted by any gun toting landowners curious to know why I’m so “interested” in their property. I haven’t run off the road to make room for a Missouri Department of Transportation truck. I have yet to be stung by a wasp, or broken out in a rash, or had to pick up trashed campsites - which all happened in 2002.
But the year is young… And I’m just getting started.
In the struggle against Mother Nature, one must remember that both sides will have the opportunity to get their licks in and neither side will withdraw unscathed.
Allow me to do some wrap-up tallying…
When man goes up against poison ivy, one would think one would deem Mother Nature the victor.
But one shouldn’t forget that man created (or at least packaged) alcohol-based Wet Wipes – which can counter the oils of the plant.
Which means, man still trumps over nature.
At least for now…
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