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Caddo
Country
by - Dorothy Grant
Warm, summer evenings in years past (before the advent of
television) found most folks sitting on the porch enjoying
whatever breezes that wafted by. Children would be outside
also, playing hide and seek, or hop scotch under the street
light with chalk squares to "hop" around in. The most fun
was to catch fireflies, AKA known as "lightning bugs" or "glow
worms". All that was needed was a jar with holes punched in
the lid to hold the illusive critters. Each child had a jar,
and when several lightning bugs were captured, their magical
light was special to see. No two seemed to light up at the
same time. When bath and bedtime arrived, the special little
bugs (actually beetles) were released, back to making summer
nights a fun-time childhood memory.
What has happened to the fireflies? Where they could be seen
in great numbers in the past, they are rare now! The summers
seem to be as humid and hot, but the fireflies have mostly
disappeared. It is very exciting to spot one in the yard or
along the roadside. This writer was amazed to see quite a
few fireflies flicker in the woods across from the high hill
where we watched the Hal Bop Comet. It took a few "flicks"
to realize that it was truly fireflies. They were not as numerous
as remembered as a child, but still had as much of a mystical
charm as seeing the comet streak across the night sky. Fireflies
can still be seen, just keep a sharp eye out for them whenever
you are outside during these summer nights.
For anyone interested in learning more about fireflies, go
to the Internet, type in "The Firefly Files". WOW! You will
be amazed.
Glory
be!!! Caddo Country is in the process of receiving a real
gift in the recent announcement that part of Longhorn Army
Ammunition Plant will become a wildlife preserve! It will
take a few years to get the administrative details in place,
to permit public use of such pristine woodlands and at the
same time protect it environmentally.
Lots
of work ahead for those involved, but the community will reap
the benefits of having such a special area in our midst. Future
generations will be able to walk through a virgin forest and
experience nature at its best. Thanks go to those with the
vision and that have devoted so much time to making this happen.
If
you’re ever ‘round the river, drop in.
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