This is Deputy Digby Pancake. Sometimes, things seem like a big deal. A big deal. And unless you are Sheriff Peanut Butter Brickle, big deals like himself aren’t always a pleasant surprise.

So when we arrived in Cedar Key, Brickle thought he would be the only big deal. But about a million others thought they were too. Some call them sand gnats. Midges. No-See-Ums.

Yes. This was a bug party.

And we were the appawtizers. And the main course. Seemed to me that we had intruded when we picked our campsite.

Now. You would think that if you weren’t invited to a party, that it would be polite to at least bring a snack. And we were it.

Pretty soon, as Boy Person talked to our camp host who warned us of the party, he looked down at his legs. He tried to remember why he had wore black pants. And he wasn’t wearing pants. His legs. Were. Covered.

There should have been a sign that said “site occupied.”

Now. We have lived in this Florida place before. We know about our friends the bugs. We know about our friends the snakes. We know about our friends the mosquitos. We know about our friends the alligators. But never…ever…have we met any residents as hungry. Or as relentless. Or as determined to chase us out of our campsite on the water. Seemed like they should have been the least of our problems here.

The persons say that every living thing has a purpose. A reason for being here. It’s what makes our earth and the environment function. But I had to wonder out loud as Girl Person put a magical oil potion on us…what. Were. Their purpose?

I thought about this from the comfort of the RV. Inside.

Do you like chocolate? Obviously dogs can’t have chocolate but you persons seem to like it.

These bugs are the only pollinators of the cacao tree…where your chocolate comes from.

Yes. You need midges or no-see-ums to grow cocoa beans.

Some things may seem like a nuisance. And I don’t like getting my pancake butt bit. But when things are inconvenient for us, it doesn’t mean they serve no purpose. And we have no right to say they don’t. We may have to make adjustments to let them do their thing. So instead of leaving, we decided to stay. To take breaks inside. And to wear oils to keep them away. Can someone make a maple syrup oil though? I’m smelling pretty bad.

The bug forecast? It’s gonna be a rough one this weekend. But I predict we will still find fun in this Cedar Key, Florida place. No-See-Ums? I see you. I respect you. But can we keep in touch by email?

This site may have been occupied before we got here. Long, long, ago. So as guests, we will try not to intrude. And not get carried away. It’s going to be hard. But perhaps this may be one time I need to wear pants.

–Deputy Digby Pancake