A brief advertisement for FrontLine

Dear Animal Owners -

I would like to alert all of you to the excellent benefits of FrontLine flea treatments. My experience in this third world country is teaching me a lot about fleas.  Primarily that... they are not fun. Fleas are persistent, itchy, and unattractive. They lead to crabby, sad friends and strange bumps that resemble the Chicken Pox.  At times, you also can sense the little creatures jumping on you which just enables you imagination to have all sorts of fun and games that you would rather not experience.  As a veteran flea experiencer (going on my third time around with my previous experience lasting two weeks...), and one who is friends with many other veteran flea experiencers (flea experiencer is the official title for one who has experienced fleas), I greatly desire FrontLine to come out with medications that can go on the back of the neck of humans and make all the little buggers (excuse the pun) go away.

Insert a picture of Katharine Curles as the Definitive Host :(

As I await the release of the new strong chemical toxins for humans, I will continue my battle. My first line of defense is denial - if I don't acknowledge it, it is a lot less overwhelming and doesn't become an obsession.  I think that's how a lot of life's problems are, and although some problems need acknowledgment, not all do, especially not the ones you cannot do anything about. This is another life lesson that I'm learning in Guatemala (thanks, flea friends!).  If  my first line of defense fails (aka I visibly see a flea), then I bring out the artillery.  This includes Deet for me, killer spray for everything I own, and flea bombs that I borrow from Malea.  It also includes washing EVERYTHING and drying it in the hot sun.  If I knew how to iron, I would use that as a tool as well.  In great acts of desperation, I put all my especially attractive (to fleas) clothes in a plastic bag, coated with toxins, and leave them for a week or two. This is becoming less possible as the weather gets colder because unfortunately, the most attractive to flea clothes are also the most necessary clothes to keep me warm.  I think I'd rather be itchy and warm than less itchy and freezing cold.  So, after weighing all the options, I am going to keep my hope, continue learning my lesson about surrendering control so it doesn't become an obsession, and dream of the day that there is a solution.

How could you not want to help that face?  Toby doesn't like itching... no dogs do!

In the meantime, I highly suggest that, no, in fact, I beg you all to purchase FrontLine for your animals.  It will make them happy and lead to a better life for all.   (Mom - don't forget to give some to Toby!)


Sincerely, Katharine