Once upon a time, there was a girl with very ugly legs. They were ugly because she had knobby knees and calves that looked like 2x4 planks of wood. She didn't think much about them as she ran around, jumped rope, and rode her bike.
When the girl became a teenager, she started to notice her unattractive legs in photographs. She was a tad embarrassed by their ugliness, but accepted them as part of her genetic makeup. Even when she was a die-hard exerciser, her legs maintained their less than attractive features.
As the girl aged and became a woman, her legs sprouted spider veins, thus enhancing their ugliness. She was conscious of them, and got used to explaining to young children that the veins weren't boo-boos.
Through her 30's, the woman got more and more comfortable just letting it all hang out - ugly knees, veiny legs and all. Who cared, really? She got so that she just didn't think about her flaws much any more.
And then one summer, The Summer of the Mosquito, her ugly legs became ten times uglier, thanks to the 583 bug bites she'd received. The mosquito bites covered her legs and some even merged with other bites, making for an especially hideous sight. The bites itched, and she scratched, soothing them temporarily, intensifying their hideousness.
As summer's end drew closer, the woman breathed a sigh of relief.
Yes, she'd be turning 40, but who cares?
She'd be able to wear pants again.
583 bites? Holy smokers. Let the summer come to a mild and peaceful end, eh.
Posted by: K Jones | Thursday, August 18, 2005 at 12:32 PM
I wear jeans and long sleeved t-shirts in the summer whenever I'm outside doing farm jobs. I just can't stand the bugs!!
Posted by: Dave Diamond | Thursday, August 18, 2005 at 12:42 PM
K,
That may have been a slight exaggeration...
DD,
You're smart. It's been a very hot and humid summer for us. I've been wearing shorts and tank tops when not in air-conditioning. That leaves a lot of exposed skin, for sure!
Posted by: Marie | Thursday, August 18, 2005 at 04:19 PM
Stopping by to say hello - to a cute birdie with sad leg story.
Ouch. Bug bites hurt (yes that was a profound observation on my part). I am quite certain that the ugly part is also an exaggeration, yes?
Posted by: Michele | Friday, August 19, 2005 at 01:55 AM
Suddenly I'm feeling quite itchy! I sympathize...it's been the summer of the mosquito here in PA, too.
Darn little buttheads anyhow!
Posted by: Elle | Friday, August 19, 2005 at 06:23 AM
My complete, utter sympathies. I had those mosquito bitten legs as a child. Mosquitos LOVED me!!! Fortunately, I must taste bad now because I get a fraction of the bites . . .
Posted by: Anita | Friday, August 19, 2005 at 11:47 AM