I’ve been questioning the validity of my mental processes lately. Things occupy my mind that I never invited in. I have thoughts. Weird thoughts. Not bad thoughts. Just weird ones.

Why do we kill cockroaches but not ladybugs? Do roaches really spread germs? I don’t know the answer. I just know if a roach sauntered across my omelet I’d smash it with a rock and make a new omelet.

If a ladybug crawled across my cupcake I’d take a photo and post it on Instagram.

Shit like that.

Why do we escort spiders out of our home but step on roaches? Or why do we wipe up a slew of ants with a paper towel and Windex (effectively killing them all immediately) but we’ll run and find a cup to carry a cricket out to the backyard?

Aren’t all insects creatures created by some god or the Universal Love Force™ (available online for only $19.99, in 6 easy payments)?

That’s the kind of shit that runs through my mind. I’m working on the calculus of absurdity.

How do we spend an entire life working, planning, dreaming, sweating, loving, succeeding and then get wiped out by some freak earthquake. As if we were never here?

(I don’t want to be thinking these things. I’ve tried meditating. Visualizing roses and crystals and some white light emanating from the sky, but my mind still wonders what the fuck is going on with reality)

We try and be loving to our fellow creatures but then nature comes along and treats us worse than an ant in our home.

I will now have to Google “Are roaches really germ-carrying insects” just so I can be sure it’s morally right to stomp the shit out of them if they dare enter my abode.

I’ll still treat ladybugs with the utmost kindness. I’ll even invite them to tea. I don’t know if they’re allowed by the Ladybug Society to eat sugar, but I’ll try and offer one a cookie.

As for roaches, I’m undecided. I grew up in New York City in the 1970’s and I just remember thousands of them behind my refrigerator, as if it were a Roach Coachella, just running around and being crazy. I do remember we tried to kill them all with a little thing called a “Roach Motel” but since the continental breakfast we offered wasn’t very good, the roaches never came in to dine and die.

Bye for now.

And remember, ladybugs are the most awesome insect in the entire insect catalog.

Aside from dragonflies, which I’m not sure is an insect.

I’ll look it up.

©2023 Bruce Palma. All rights reserved.