Day 3 in Georgia (July 8, 2010)

Calhoun is a small town in North Georgia approximately halfway between Atlanta and Chattanooga.  It has many of my favorite Southern establishments, including Food Lion, Piggly Wiggly, and, of course, Fred’s.

Driving through the downtown area with the windows rolled down, I heard a strange noise above the sound of the radio.  I turned the music off, and as we slowed to a stop at a red light, the sound came into focus.  Insects chirping.  And lots of ‘em.  Loud and harmonic and amazingly powerful. Insects in the South are not at all like insects in Ohio.  Yes, I know the North has its share of creepy crawlies.  But the South does everything 10x over. The tea is ten times sweeter.  Ten times as many foods will be fried.  And bugs are ten times as plentiful and that much more dangerous.

But these insects, crickets or cicadas, are not climbing up my leg or hiding in my cabinets ready to bite.  They’re up in the trees.  They’re singing.  I can enjoy and respect that.

I don’t turn the radio back on, but enjoy nature’s music for the rest of my drive.

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