What are the Chances?

After entering the restroom, I closed the door and glanced down to see a huge centipede trapped half-way in the door jamb. Seconds later, it wriggled free and crawled away, leaving several legs behind. Moral of the story: Always close the bathroom door.

But seriously, think about it. What are the chances that, at the perfect moment, a bug would slip into the restroom in time to get smushed in the doorway? If that doesn’t amaze you, listen to this:

                                     https://youtu.be/Ax__pvlTEz0

I can’t confirm the veracity of those stories, but they make you wonder and consider   changing your name to “Hugh Williams.” Timing is everything! I don’t believe in coincidences, but I do believe everything has a backstory or an afterstory (a made-up word), even when we don’t completely understand how the pieces fit together.  When have you witnessed a time when two events miraculously coincided?       

At What Cost?

What’s the biggest, scariest bug you’ve ever seen? There are several countries I prefer not to visit because they grow their bugs large. One day I went to dump the trash out, but when I approached our entrance to go back inside, I saw it. On the front door hung a huge, scary bug essentially blocking my path and holding me hostage. Trapped! Once I finally summoned enough courage to move within a few feet of the door—I kid you not—the bug turned its head and looked at me. I could even see its eyes. My first thought was, “It’s watching me and it knows I’m here!” Creeeepppy!

During that time we were living in a big apartment complex.  I spotted a “neighbor” and signaled for at him to come over. I assumed he lived in the complex, too (there’s a lesson here somewhere). The man surveyed the situation.  I’m pretty sure he thought the bug was a biggie because when it moved, he jumped and he just didn’t tackle it with guns a-blazing like I had envisioned.  Did I feel slightly silly making a big deal over an insect and calling on a stranger for help? A little, but not so much after seeing this video:

Yes. That’s what trapped me outside—a preying mantis.  During a fight, they look like they’re strategizing, thinking and patiently waiting for right moment to attack. Don’t underestimate them. In this video, the snake underestimated the preying mantis and almost paid for it with its life.  Clearly, the preying mantis underestimated the snake’s determination to wiggle itself free. Who or what have you underestimated and at what cost?