All the way there I sang an alligator song that I was sure would work. I offered to sacrifice my chihuahua to the chief alligator god in return for a glimpse of just one of the mighty creatures. (I guess he knew I didn't mean it...) I looked and looked... Failure.
On the way back I told Rich, we are not going home until I see an alligator. I made him pull over at swamp stops along the way and I peered out the windows. Finally I decided that I must get out of the car and walk directly along the water's edge, making noise and hoping one hungry gator would be around.
I was out of the car for approximately 4 minutes. I even threw sticks in the water, hoping to trigger a gator to move his ugly head and try to eat me. I was emboldened by the tall metal fence at the water's edge. Suddenly I felt as if my skin was crawling. Though I knew it wasn't true I imagined that this was the feeling I would get from being in an alligator's angry state.
Alas, I was simply crawling with Mosquitos. I ran screaming for the car and had a near seizure slapping bugs off myself. I am allergic to mosquito bites and I had massive welts all over my neck, arms, and legs. It was horrible!! Rich drove me straight to CVS to get some antihistamines.
I think I've been cured of my need to see an alligator. I used to see them all the time as a kid in North Florida so I guess that will have to do. What a day.
