Sam the Stink Bug

A major difference between California and Maryland, aside from the weather, is the lack of bugs in California. Yes, there is the occasional bee or fly, once in a while a spider might be found crawling across the window, but on the whole, California is not inundated with bugs, arachnoids or other crawlers. Seeing a bug of some sort has become a curiosity for me and Scott. If I find 'something' in the kitchen, where I've been unpacking for the last 10 days, I cover it with a clear plastic bowl, point it out to Scott, who identifies it, taps the bowl, and the next day tosses the dead carcass into the trash, with no worry that its story will appear on Cold Case or Without A Trace. The next 'something' gets the same treatment.

However, last Monday, I found Sam the stink bug crawling along the countertop. As usual, I covered Sam with a little bowl and waited for him to die. Yes, leaving his family to wonder what ever became of him, but this is Mutual of Omaha time; survival of the fittest, Roman gladiators, him or us, Leningrad and the stink bugs, you get the idea.  But, and a big but this is, he was still alive on Tuesday evening. We opined that he must be a young bug since he's lasted longer than the predecessors who found their way to our door. Wednesday he was still crawling along the top of the bowl. I began to wonder, did I not sage the house properly when we moved in? Is the spirit of some previous owner alive in Sam?  Did I not leave the white purity candle burning long enough? I woke up on Thursday and there he was, doing the back stroke on the counter, but he righted himself and continued with his exercises. Well, now I was intrigued, but not yet ready to join PETA (there is fur in the closet). How was this damn thing still alive? Scott suggested shooting it with Raid, but that seemed rather mean spirited. Friday, same story. How could this be? Even humans can't survive without food and water for more than five days. Yesterday, there he was, chipper as ever.  Finally, I named him Sam.  Scott and I discussed calling a vet, having it declawed, giving it shots and adopting it.  Today I'm seriously considering shoving a piece of white bread under the bowl. If that doesn't kill it, nothing will.