Thanks, Mary. We had kind exterminators come. They sat outside the house one night, observed the bats' exit ( we were not aware they lived in our attic), and boarded the area so the bats could not return. Issue solved.
Ed, what a delightful and funny story. I revere bats and all creatures for the natural part they play in our environment.
Your story reminded me of a time many years ago when my young daughter and I would sit out at dusk in Harmony RI and watch bats dart silently through the darkening sky, snapping up mosquitoes. Fear of such creatures only last until one learns about them. JC Yuill
Loved it! Terrified of birds and had the same experience with a robin last week (although fully clothed). Thanks for the insight. He was just as terrified as I was.
Loved the story, but why didn't you get your 5 iron instead of a broom? It wouldn't have changed the outcome, but you could have practiced your swing plane. I, too, have found bats in our bedroom who whoosh down the bedroom fireplace to pay us a visit. Bats are terribly maligned creatures thanks to Bela Lagosi , Christopher Lee, and movie magic. No matter how old we get, we're still a child at heart.
Such humor in your writing, Ed! I kept laughing more and more with every paragraph using my mind’s eye to see all that bedroom chaos! Best line ever is, “Who would fight a bat in the nude?”
Thank you for this great advice about our nocturnal friends and for starting my Monday off with laughter!
I had similar experience wit a bat and a bird. The bat in the exact circumstances as you and the bird while playing poker with you and our friends. I got a call that a bird flew in the house and Carol was very upset. I was having a rare great night and winning big. I had to leave and everyone was upset that they would not have a chance to win back some money. Well the solution was exactly as you so eloquently described. So I won’t even try. But I will try to also sum up with limerick of my own.
Hey Ed, are you and I living parallel lives? My bat story goes back to the early 1970s when my family was enjoying our newly-purchased summer home in Dartmouth. The house was built in 1900 and was a summer residence to several families before we bought it. The bat did its thing over my wife and I while we were asleep, just as you described. I used a tennis racket, but the antics of all participants were like you described. However our bat did not get out, but disappeared into the exposed rafters of the roof over our un-ceilinged, second-floor bedroom. Next day I called upon our local exterminator who took one look at our bedroom and exclaimed: "A bat must have been the clerk of the works!" He did manage to find him and solved our problem. Of course, that was before we became enlightened about the usefulness of bats. As always, Ed, thanks for the memories! Ron DiPippo
Ron, I have to ask: Did you install a ceiling in your second-floor bedroom? My wife's parents had a summer house on the Cape---and that house had an un-ceilinged second-floor bedroom where we slept. And yes, there were bat-sized creatures flying around at night into the exposed rafters. We couldn't find them during the day. I think they were bats. Didn't they want to get out? I know I wanted them to. It's difficult not to get tense---and remain tense---when there are bats flying around when you're trying to sleep. Not to mention that when your Massachusetts in-laws believe you're a hopelessly un-athletic Rhode Island person, it doesn't help if you then complain about bats in their attic. So I didn't. And I admit that their view of me had some elements of truth. Well, OK, more than some.
Angelo, No fan during bat-times. Later I renovated the cottage and it is now our full-time residence. Yes, ceiling fans now adorn the ceilings of the bedrooms. Better than AC, especially near the water. Ron
Great Halloween story! I have a few bat stories from teaching in the city. Janitor would say - No problem - hit it with a broom and place the garbage basket over it. Never witnessed a bat's final withdrawal after the good dependable janitor took care of it all.
Everyone has a bat story, Larry, but no one with a five iron. Nowadays, I love bats and hate my five iron
It seems that no one forgets their bat stories
Thanks, Mary. We had kind exterminators come. They sat outside the house one night, observed the bats' exit ( we were not aware they lived in our attic), and boarded the area so the bats could not return. Issue solved.
I survived. And now I love bats
Ed, what a delightful and funny story. I revere bats and all creatures for the natural part they play in our environment.
Your story reminded me of a time many years ago when my young daughter and I would sit out at dusk in Harmony RI and watch bats dart silently through the darkening sky, snapping up mosquitoes. Fear of such creatures only last until one learns about them. JC Yuill
Agree. I feared the unknown.
Loved it! Terrified of birds and had the same experience with a robin last week (although fully clothed). Thanks for the insight. He was just as terrified as I was.
A Robin? You're funny, my friend. Thanks for subscribing. Hugs
LOL 😂 Advice "KEEP YOUR WINDOWS CLOSED OR PUT IN SCREENS."
Yup
Loved the story, but why didn't you get your 5 iron instead of a broom? It wouldn't have changed the outcome, but you could have practiced your swing plane. I, too, have found bats in our bedroom who whoosh down the bedroom fireplace to pay us a visit. Bats are terribly maligned creatures thanks to Bela Lagosi , Christopher Lee, and movie magic. No matter how old we get, we're still a child at heart.
A five iron? I didn't golf in those days. Nice note
Keep it comin
Will do. Thanks
Indeed we do!!!
Such humor in your writing, Ed! I kept laughing more and more with every paragraph using my mind’s eye to see all that bedroom chaos! Best line ever is, “Who would fight a bat in the nude?”
Thank you for this great advice about our nocturnal friends and for starting my Monday off with laughter!
Pleased to start your week with some humor, Melina. We need more these days.
I had similar experience wit a bat and a bird. The bat in the exact circumstances as you and the bird while playing poker with you and our friends. I got a call that a bird flew in the house and Carol was very upset. I was having a rare great night and winning big. I had to leave and everyone was upset that they would not have a chance to win back some money. Well the solution was exactly as you so eloquently described. So I won’t even try. But I will try to also sum up with limerick of my own.
Ed went after a bat with a broom
As it flew round and round in the room
And as the bat soared
Ed was sapped and was floored
The bat laughed as out the window it zoomed.
Paul
LOVE the limerick and the note.. I remember when you left the game with our money. And for a bird?? Yeah right.😅
Hey Ed, are you and I living parallel lives? My bat story goes back to the early 1970s when my family was enjoying our newly-purchased summer home in Dartmouth. The house was built in 1900 and was a summer residence to several families before we bought it. The bat did its thing over my wife and I while we were asleep, just as you described. I used a tennis racket, but the antics of all participants were like you described. However our bat did not get out, but disappeared into the exposed rafters of the roof over our un-ceilinged, second-floor bedroom. Next day I called upon our local exterminator who took one look at our bedroom and exclaimed: "A bat must have been the clerk of the works!" He did manage to find him and solved our problem. Of course, that was before we became enlightened about the usefulness of bats. As always, Ed, thanks for the memories! Ron DiPippo
Thanks, Ron. Great note. Yes, we led parallel lives. I trust you learned as much as I did.
Ron, I have to ask: Did you install a ceiling in your second-floor bedroom? My wife's parents had a summer house on the Cape---and that house had an un-ceilinged second-floor bedroom where we slept. And yes, there were bat-sized creatures flying around at night into the exposed rafters. We couldn't find them during the day. I think they were bats. Didn't they want to get out? I know I wanted them to. It's difficult not to get tense---and remain tense---when there are bats flying around when you're trying to sleep. Not to mention that when your Massachusetts in-laws believe you're a hopelessly un-athletic Rhode Island person, it doesn't help if you then complain about bats in their attic. So I didn't. And I admit that their view of me had some elements of truth. Well, OK, more than some.
So much for summer vacations...
Angelo Mendillo
C'mon,Angelo... hopelessly un-athletic Rhode Island person? There are such things?
Well, OK, there are not very many of them. I knew two. Three, if you count me.
😅
Angelo, No fan during bat-times. Later I renovated the cottage and it is now our full-time residence. Yes, ceiling fans now adorn the ceilings of the bedrooms. Better than AC, especially near the water. Ron
Not to get caught off guard, we have air conditioning AND a ceiling fan in our bedroom. It can get a little cold in there.
Cold storage bat-phobia. Very funny.
Nice. We have a place in The Berkshires on a lake. Same thing. Fans. No AC. Better.
Bears. No bats . . . yet.
Ed, he might say that man is loco and with that I will laugh the morning away.
Glad to give you a chuckle. Enjoy the beautiful day, Peter
Great Halloween story! I have a few bat stories from teaching in the city. Janitor would say - No problem - hit it with a broom and place the garbage basket over it. Never witnessed a bat's final withdrawal after the good dependable janitor took care of it all.
Oh, No