This column is brought to you by a Lineman…well, maybe a former lineman’s mama. Linemen are our highvoltage heroes who keep our communities connected, especially during tornado season in Oklahoma. Without them, there would be no electricity. This means no lights, no refrigeration, no heating or air conditioning, no internet…the list goes on and on. To bring you this column, I use electric lights to find my way upstairs to my computer, use my computer to look up statistics and scan in data, then continue on the computer to write the column, send the column by email to the Atoka County Times Office…you get the idea, so it really is brought to you by a lineman. Remember comedian George Gobel’s sage words, 'If it weren't for electricity, we'd all be watching television by candlelight' and thank a lineman the next time you see one. They are the unsung heroes who keep our world running smoothly.
I saw someone from Lane buying rope at Wyrick’s the other day and it reminded me of Grandpa Tom. My family lived at Redden…near Daisy…when I was born and my Grandpa always joked that the mosquitoes were so big there that they tied the babies down at night so that those dang mosquitoes would not carry them off. He was partial to the word “dang.” We all slept under mosquito nets because there was no electricity at Redden then, meaning we could not close the doors and windows and turn on the AC to thwart those dang vampires. I think they are about as bad now as then and of course, then there are the ever-popular chiggers. So, several members of my family here are allergic to the insect sprays and we are looking for a way to make it through summer in Lane.
I have tried all the online home remedies for itching that I ran across and that didn’t involve things like applying gasoline to your skin…that can be harmful, or using apple cider vinegar or bleach baths…you have to be tough. I read recently that one person recommended fake nails and another sandpaper, which involved hospitalization I understand. I also ruled out moving to Australia for the tropical climates to take care of our problem because of the cost of relocating my cows, tractors, kids, grandkids, etc. Plus, Australia is home to over 300 different species of mosquitoes while there are only around 176 recognized species of mosquitoes in the United States. If you have a remedy, tell us about it PLEASE. I will print it for the suffering masses. By-theway, my grandpa Tom swore that guineas keep the chiggers away and Grandpa Will would spit some of his tobacco on the itchy spot. Uggh! We always had lots of guineas and Bull Durham at our house.
