Once Again...Be The Helping Hand

   So Hurricane Ida decided to slide on into Louisiana to unleash her wrath.  The good people there are suffering.  If you have never had to deal with a powerful hurricane, watch a few of the videos that are abundant on the Internet...then imagine that being spread for hundreds and hundreds of miles.  The force of the wind and water is beyond comprehension. The devastation is mindboggling.  These storms are definitely something to contend with and are not something to ever take lightly.  Here on the Bayou, we prepared just in case Ida took a swing our way.  We are so very thankful that it did not.  We got the outskirts of the storm which did give us a bit of wind and copious rainfall.  In fact, there was enough rainfall in Mississippi to cause major flooding.  Roads are collapsing and houses are submerged.  A lot of folks were just not ready.  The Little Bayou House did not see damage and there is very little in the way of cleanup.  

  It was during that cleanup today that I came across one of the other type victims of storms and floods.  While picking up debris, a slight movement caught my eye.  It is important to notice ALL movement after hurricanes since moccasins can easily be balled up in the debris.  This, however, was no moccasin.  A cicada nymph had come from underground on its way to becoming an adult.  The poor thing had to dig through soggy ground only to emerge right in the midst of fire ants that had been dislocated due to the storm surge.  Fire ants are friends to no one and would have made short work of the cicada as it had no way to escape.  Cicadas at this stage are slow moving and almost clumsy.  I just could not stand by and let the poor thing die such a painful death.

  Knowing cicadas usually try to climb oak trees at this stage, I gently lifted the creature and let it rest in the palm of my hand.  The nearest oak tree was also covered in ants so that would have been a poor choice of morphing spot.  The cicada nymph stayed on my hand until I found a tree free of ants. There, I released the insect.  The critter slowly left my hand for the bark of the tree. It seemed happy.  I watched for a while as it made its way up the oak tree.  

  It made me feel good that I had helped the cicada.  I am sure the critter was appreciative.  Folks, if you can spare anything, there are numerous foundations that are collecting items to help the good folks that have been so hurt by Hurricane Ida.  Please pray, donate, lend a helping hand or just send encouraging words their way.  Trust me.  You will be appreciated. A little help goes a long way.  Be kind, folks.