It didn't take me very long to realize what people meant when they used that term here. Once the weather started to come out, the gnats descended upon the masses, much like a wild herd of stampeding buffalo, only instead of getting stomped to death, you are eaten alive.
This year, they are once again, out in full force. I am fully convinced that in the not too distant future, one of these swarms will swoop down and carry off my first born to the wilderness for a full-blown feed fest. Dayum, but those little buggers bite!
Some important things to remember are not to dawdle when getting into, or out of a car during this time. Because if you do, you will have more living beings in your car than you have seat belts for. I figure it averages about 100 per 30 seconds. Another significant point is, DO NOT WALK THROUGH A SWARM OF GNATS WITH YOUR MOUTH OPEN. A Georgian style do-it-yourself tonsillectomy.
Now, back to the wave. The Georgia Wave is simply when people take one hand (and at sometimes two, when it's really bad) and wave it wildly in front of their face. I'm given to understand that tourists mistake that for a symbol of the Georgian Hello. This could not be further from the truth, and if they are here during the gnat season, it does not take them long to realize it.
Conversations go something like this:
"Well, hi there Bill (wave, wave, smack, wave, smack), how the heck are you? (wave, wave, two-handed wave, smack, wave, wave). We Georgian's are a bunch of mad gesticulating fools, let me tell you. Just like the Italians.
Oh, and that distinct aroma you smell? That's our perfume. Eau de la Bug Juice. It's the Este Lauder of fragrances here.
Wave, wave, smack, wave, wave, smack.
Comments
The bugs in WV are still sleeping in their larvae state. Thank goodness!
Posted by: Melonie at March 21, 2005 10:43 PM
G'day Moogie, understand the feeling mate. Here in Australia we are known for the "aussie salute". In summer the flies out number the humans millions to one, the "aussie salute" is as you describe, waving hands over face, we australians are also known to say to the flies "p--s of for heavens sake" but we all know that flies do not have ears. We also have a special hat that we wear in summer, especially in the outback, a wide brimmed hat with corks hanging off strings every inch or so, that way, just bmy us moving our heads, the corks wobble, therefore, hopefully batting the flies away. Not a very good look, but very effective.
Posted by: vegemiterules at March 22, 2005 3:26 AM
They were very bad today and they came out very early, I was planting at 3:00pm and got my cracker ass ate up. I jumped in the hot tub and got rid of some of the pain. After the gnats have come and gone, then the deer flies come and they bring there buddies those nasty big yellow flies, when they bite, they leave big bumps or welphs on your skin, hurts like hell. Come on winter, please hurry and come back, Cat.
Posted by: catfish at March 22, 2005 4:04 AM
yes...the little flying teeth are full force and almost ate my legs off while entering my car. I refuse to do yard work during this period, as I value my skin too much to subject it to the little buggers! *waves..smack smack...waves*
Posted by: Suzanne at March 22, 2005 8:50 PM
I still want to know what Olgelthorpe(sp?) was thinking when he decided to settle in Savannah. I can just picture it.
"Ya know, if we can drain this big ass swamp and find some way to deal with whatever in the hell is biting me right now, this might be a good place to live"
Posted by: Stereotype at March 23, 2005 7:44 AM
Wow, I didn't know that Georgia was like that! I learned something new...keep my mouth closed when I travel through Georgia! Good luck with that!
Posted by: Lindsay K. at March 23, 2005 8:41 AM
SKIN SO SOFT!! There is no other solution.
Posted by: Acidman at March 23, 2005 2:07 PM
