The Bar Chronicles: #17, A ‘PSA’, The Asian ‘Jumping Worm’

Seese

A warm stretch of May days, summer like, goosed the ‘bar chroniclers’ to find our way to Caverly’s Irish Pub. We seem to be stuck on Caverly’s, but how can you beat $20 for 5 beers? Add the intimate bar with its colorful array of taps, friendly patrons, the worn hardwoods and oversized chalkboard beer menu, and Caverly’s is as comfortable as any watering hole we’ve patronized on ‘bar nights’.

Bar TAps

The sidewalk tables were taken by heavily pierced bikers, with their black leather chaps and vests and a potpourri of busy tattoos covering any exposed skin. In contrast, wedding bands and silver fillings was the extent of our body metal, no pierced ears or tattoos, at least none visible. Our belts, the only leather we showed, were functional, holding back the 34s, 36s, maybe a 38. A couple of beers tonight would bloat us enough to test those straps and push the limits of the numbers.

We posted inside, at our favorite table, a wobbly one with a napkin shim. Following the customary toast to good health and good fortune, the gabfest began. The clinking of glasses was like the gates swinging open at a horse race, we were off and running with an evening of books, biology and beer.

Normally, while our ‘beer clutch’ is not a book review club, we occasionally refer to them to support our discussions or show off our intellect. Tonight, we hit the trifecta with ‘The Great Halifax Explosion’, ‘Beneath the Metropolis’ and ‘The Winner’, another Baldacci thriller. But the best read & reference was a newsletter about the invasive, Asian ‘jumping worm’.

‘Disturb a jumping worm and it’s like a nightcrawler on steroids: It violently writhes on the forest floor, recalling a snake in a bad horror movie. Try to catch it, a piece of its tail will detach in your hand — still wriggling as you hold it.’ *

Creepiness aside, this invasive invader goes against all positive thoughts we have about earthworms as great aerators of our garden soil, and good bait for adventures at ‘the ol’ fishing hole’. These summertime squirmers are underground giants, up to eight inches long, that render the ground void of nutrients for any type of plant growth with their piranha like foraging.

I’ll be watching our gardens, as you should yours, for telltale signs of these monsters. If our ferns flop, the sedum sag or hydrangeas halt, I’ll call the ‘authorities’ to report the invasion, a government bureaucrat who knows about snakes and worms, and they do.

When our refills were finished, we cautiously walked to the car with an eye to the ground for anything that jumps. Some fascinating conversation tonight, but, worms aside, the real takeaway was, once again, the friendship and comradery among a few senior neighbors…with the help of a cold beer, or two.

Steve
May 2018
S’amusing @ Srbottch.Com

*https://blog.nature.org/science/2016/10/31/jumping-worm-the-creepy-damaging-invasive-you-dont-know/

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srbottch

Retired in 2013 after 5 years as an elementary school teacher and 40 years as a sales representative to begin anew as a school crossing guard. SMy essays/stories are a way to communicate through the telling of personal experiences. One reader said about my blog stories, "...these are like a cold sip during a marathon run, simple, real life events". Another offered about my blog, “it brings some sense of normalcy not easily found in the modern world.”

16 thoughts on “The Bar Chronicles: #17, A ‘PSA’, The Asian ‘Jumping Worm’”

    1. Thanks, Jim. You brought another great topic to our table. Between ‘ants weigh more than humans’ and this one, we’re fast becoming experts on creepy stuff.

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    1. Thanks, Robbie. They do give you a little insight into the lives of a few ‘geezer’ guys, don’t they. (Geezers is slang for older folks but I use it affectionately). Glad you enjoyed it, Robbie. And, yes, nice weather is here, a bit too warm, actually.

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      1. Thank you, Steve. I have heard that word “geezers” before. It is not a word used locally where I live but I have read it. I enjoy your insights and you do have a knack for storytelling.

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    1. I couldn’t agree more. Why did it take so long. Your comment sounds like a title 😂. Looking forward to reading you…and, thanks. I said, ‘THANKS’!

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  5. Could this be what we heard eati g our huge hostas right at the root of each stem?  It was under the ground munching the stems right off.  Could possibly be comes, too.  Never heard of jumping worms, but I’ll be on the lookout.

    Sent via the Samsung Galaxy S® 6, an AT&T 4G LTE smartphone

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  7. Just checking in to see how you’re doing. Haven’t heard from you in a 2 or 3 days so want to make sure you’re okay.

    Sent via the Samsung Galaxy S® 6, an AT&T 4G LTE smartphone

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