Bed Bugs and Grace

This summer has come and gone faster than something really fast. Like Lightening McQueen or a turtle on Rollerblades. It's been filled with fun times with good friends; hard times with my cat; lots of babysitting and, as the title suggests, Bed Bugs!

Well, it's just been the past two weeks that have had bed bugs. We were notified by our building that there was an infestation. Not necessarily in out apartment, but we had to follow precautionary procedures nonetheless. To save a lot of typing and whining, I will just tell you that my apartment had not looked that way that it does since I moved in. That includes discombobulated furniture, very clean floors and lots of clothes in bags. In fact, I did six loads of laundry last night. And I made tacos. It was a grand old time.

But all that to say, bed bugs can teach you a lot. Andy and I were driving back from MI last weekend and we got to talking about grace. I realized that I was seriously lacking. I had gotten all in a huff about being inconvenienced over other people's poor hygienic practices and the resulting infestation. I blew up in front of my poor roomie who was having a bad day even without me going postal on her. And while I did what was required of me and, Praise The Lord, there are no bug in my apartment. I have this feeling that I was nigh until intolerable. I should have taken a moment to cool a little and say to myself: "Self, chill! This is not the end of the world. It is merely and opportunity to practice all sorts of wonderful, Biblical, even ecumenical maxims. Lesson learned for now. Here's hoping that it will stick.

The one entertaining thing about all this is my cat's reaction. She's not a happy camper at all. We've been fighting lately, but that's ok. At least she's not hiding behind the fridge like our neighbor's cat...