Splat!
Splat, splat, sploosh!
The bugs of Eastern Colorado were like a percussive song all to themselves. I don't know if it's all the ranching in Eastern Colorado, the clear skies that extend on forever east of Denver, or just a weird phenomenon, but Eastern Colorado has got some seriously juicy bugs. I knew that my car wouldn't look clean after all the driving. After all, this little road trip of mine clocked in at about 2600 miles. By the time I reached Albuquerque, there was some heavy-duty bug squashing going on all over the car. I thought about running my car through a car wash at that point, but decided I'd wait until I returned to the twin cities. Why wash it when it was quickly going to get covered in bug guts again?
Eastern Colorado brought a whole new bug massacre. I almost pulled over the first time one of those big bugs splattered against my wind shield. SPLAT! It's yellow guts spilled out over the windshield. "What in the . . .?" I thought. Then, realizing it was just a big Colorado bug, I sprayed my windshield with wiper fluid and gave it a rinse. Of course, this did smear the bug in a whole new way. It didn't really clean the windshield of my car, but I suppose it was a slight improvement. Instead of a smattering of yellow goo, I was left with an opaque smudge.
(On a completely geeky note, I would like to point out that smudge is a fantastic word! It sounds just like what it actually is. Smudge. The consonant cluster at the beginning of the word gives it a smacking, splattering sound, and the "dge" at the end makes it sound like it is simply sinking in, seeping in, rubbing. Try saying it: Smudge. Smudge, smudge, smudge. Smudge. What an oddly perfect combination of sounds. Smudge.)
So, here's my haiku to Eastern Colorado, home of the juiciest bugs ever:
Oh, Colorado,
Your bugs once so full of juice
Now rest on my car.
Ok. Maybe I shouldn't give up my day job just yet . . .
*I would like to note here that although I tease and make sarcastic jokes about Colorado's bugs, I really enjoyed my visit to Colorado in every aspect. I loved driving every part of the state that I visited, even the flatter eastern part of the state. My other thoughts on Colorado fit more thematically with my thoughts on Nebraska. Tune in to my next installment for something a little less silly** and a lot more thoughtful.
**Although the next installment isn't as silly as this bit about juicy bugs, I don't think I'll ever be so serious that all silliness will be gone. This is what happens when your parents bless you with a middle name like "Happy."
Smudge!
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