In Case You Were Wondering...

For those of you who haven't heard of our escapade in the pond last week, I should at least give you a few highlights. Part of the listof things to do was pull out some of the cattails that are expanding their area in the pond. So, Kristy and I went out to help John, swimsuit-clad and ready to go. Some of you haven't really experienced the joy of stepping into the pond. One would think it'd be easy enough to step a few feet into the pond and get to work. However, our pond is special. As you step off the bank two steps, yousink to your knees in the soft mush beneath. Then, as you step further, you not only realize how spider-laden the cattails are, but that you are now up to your hip in the mix of mud, sticks, and leaves that are composting together in one, wonderfully black composition.We'd been working for a while, me being farthest out, John 2 steps closer to the bank, and Kristy just in the water by the bank, before John realized that I, too, was standing up, but just that far down into the muck. They didn't mind me being the farthest in at all, andneither did I, until I distinctly felt something else join me in my swimming suit. Concerned (okay, really freaked out, but remaining calmon the outside), I stopped pulling out reeds to pull out the slimy friend I'd acquired. It looked kindof slug-like, but with a larger mouthand suctioning surfaces on its underside. John refused to investigate and identify the creature (he was the nearby boy and integ. bioperson, afterall), so I just threw my friend back in the water and away from me, hoping it wasn't a leech. As I thought, though, I realizedI hadn't noticed segments and thought that I remembered leeches as segmented creatures. Still, I decided to take a nice swim in the algae so I could feel less creeped-out before going back to work. Kristy and John followed, though John needed some coaxing.Carson (the 6 year-old neighbor boy) came out and asked us what we were doing and why. John explained, "Do you know what peer-pressure is?" C: "No" J: "That's why I'm here". John also voiced the discovery that it's not good to really investigate what's around youwhen swimming in such a pond. Just looking enough to see there's a stick you might want to move from in front of your face is sufficient; you probably don't want to start noticing all the bugs and such that are there, too. He preferred to swim with me in front of him to clear the way. Good thing I didn't tell him I was taking a spider off his face, because he was pretty concerned when I told him to staystill and started reaching for his face. As we got back to work, though, I found something much worse. We'd already seen the snake andscared it away, so I wasn't worried about that. I did notice a flat, segmented leech making its way up my leg, though. Not wanting to disturb the others, I simply removed it and suggested that we hurry up and get the work done. Kristy, finding a nearly-identical friendon her arm a minute later, announced it and the evacuation of the pond was quickly performed. We found no more friends on us, butJohn was not left out of the party as he found one latched on in the shower. He has a lovely mark available for display if anyone nearbywould like to see the battlescar. So, yes, there are leeches in the pond. And fewer cattails. Just in case you were wondering.