Why Does The Fattest Bug Hit The Middle Of The Windshield

It was one of those late summer nights when the humidity was finally taking a turn to the better and a full Grain moon had risen just over our Tennessee hills as I pulled from the local service station to head home. During my stop at the stations gas pump for E85 fuel and as it chugged slowly pumping the fuel into my flex fuel car, I had taken the time to clean every inch of my windshield from a long day of driving. The car’s front glass now glistened in the moonlight and I even felt like the car drove better due to being able to see so clearly across the hood of my car pointed in the direction of home. I usually feel the same way when I get the entire car washed. The vehicle just seems like it operates better clean than it does with grime on it. Of course, heading home also makes things better and I do like full moons on a summer night, not that I'm one of those who gets strange or anything.

After enjoying the nights final leg of the drive along with the rays of moonlight coming down for about a mile, out of nowhere a flying bug the size of a small aircraft decided to commit suicide right in the middle on the driver’s side of my freshly cleaned windshield. That bug must have just been making a return trip from the Gulf Coast and been helping BP suck up the oil leakage, because when it hit my clean glass there was enough grease that splattered out to have greased the tracks for the CSX Rail lines from here to Saint Louis. I went from an evening view of bliss to trying to look through a vision of "who soaped the windows at Halloween". There was no way to see around the innards of that escapee from Jurassic Park.

Attempting to keep my eye on the centerline, I did what any experienced driver would do, but probably should not have done, and hit the windshield washer button. Now my entire windshield resembled a misguided modern art painting and with each swipe of the wiper arm the bug goo became even gooier. The centerline now was even becoming a little squiggly and the wiper blades were making a noise that sounded something like thump, thump, thump, and squeeeeeak. All I knew to do was to keep pumping the washer fluid to the scene of the crime and hope that the bug had not been eating an insoluble substance of some type.

As I pumped the washer fluid button frantically, I heard a sound no one wants to hear during a bug cleansing operation of this type. The windshield washer reservoir was running dry and it was taking its final breaths. With the gasp of a winded runner, the last drop of blue washer fluid landed on the bug innards with no avail. The Kamikaze bug had taken me out, causing me to coast to the side of the road and delaying the final miles home. Who would have ever thought a bug could take out today's modern automobiles with one flight of desperation. However, it was not going to stop me from my appointed round! (I heard that from the Post Office and thought it worked pretty well here.)

In the cup holder of my car I had left a half-full cup of cold drink from the days driving. The ice had melted, making what was left all watery, and the only liquid I had available at the moment. With the wipers going and making their strange sound, I poured the left over cold drink slowly over the windshield. Like one of those As Seen On TV ads, the bug guts melted off and the wipers changed their tune to a happier note, if that could be possible. The windshield wasn't perfect, but clear enough to let the moonlight back through and for me to drive on home, bug or no bug.

Driving into my drive, I decided this little adventure had a moral just like any

story. Life is just like your car’s windshield. Many days your drive down life's highway is clear as can be and the sunlight will seem to be never ending, but there is usually a bug out there somewhere that will come on the scene and hit you right where you are looking. Now, that bug was also having a pretty good day until you came along. Just remember to try to avoid the bugs, and those you can’t, work around them until you can see a little bit clearer of what life has in store for you. Life is full of bug innards, but there are also a lot of moonbeams as well just waiting to make your view of life more enjoyable.

James Moore, Sr. (Pension application R-7334, dated 8 Sep 1841, White Co., TN) He was living in Van Buren County at the time of filing R-7334. He was born 22 Dec 1762 Bertie Co., NC. He died 11 Feb 1849 in Van Buren Co., TN. He is believed to be buried at Mt. Pisgah Cemetery in White Co., TN. He married 1 Sep 1794 Bertie Co., NC, Agnes Findley. He was the son of Joseph and Jane Walker Moore. In 1780 he was an Ensign in the First Regiment of NC. On 1 July 1781, he was promoted to Lieutenant. His children was William Moore, David Moore, "Winny" Moore married John Mitchell, John Moore, Edward Moore, Elizabeth Moore, Mary Ann Moore and a daughter unknown.

He was at Eutaw Springs on 1 July 1781 he was wounded. The R-7334 gives accounts of his service. He lived in Cumberland Co., NC, in 1781 which he served a six month tour. He resided in Bertie Co., NC, for about 1 1/2 years (with his father). He lived in Pendleton District, Anderson Co., SC "about 20 years". He lived in White /Van Buren Co., TN, "about 24 or 25 years" (prior to 1841).

Abijah Crane - Clergyman and Thomas Roberts witnessed his application statement. His son, Thomas Moore Sr. and wife Sarah Lucinda (Sallie) Doyle, both lived and die in Bossier Parish, LA approximately 50 miles, south of Columbia County, AR. Thomas Moore may have been part of several wagon trains of families from Van Buren that moved westward in the late 1840's following the Mexican War of 1848 and the opening of Missouri and Arkansas lands to former veterans of the War of 1812.