AT LEFT, A BED BUG

One great thing about cruises is that it means packing and unpacking one time. Another is not having to check in hotels you're not familiar with. Hotels that have poor or no ac. Hotels that have never heard of a no smoking room. Noisy hotels. Even bed bug hotels.

Now I've never seen a bed bug. Couldn't find one for an insect collection required by high school biology. But of course everyone's heard of "sleep tight and don't let the bed bugs bite." I'm sure young kids really feel more comfortable by hearing that advice.

I remember our church custodian (Harry Purnell) at our wedding told me my new bride was "as cute as a bed bug's ear". Now why I remember that I don't know, but I agreed with him. And still do.

On the last night of our cruise, they took our robes and left us well, robeless. They had to get ready for the new cruisers the next morning when we had to be off the ship by 9:00. They stacked new sheets on a shelf to expediate their early morning work preparing all the cabins.

So before we went to sleep, we put on the new sheets. Piled the old ones in a corner and slept on brand new sheets. We knew our room stewardess wouldn't bother changing them and might even appreciate our efforts. And if we had any bed bugs, they would be passed on to the next cruisers who were fortunate enough to have our room.

Ok, I made that last story up about the sheets. But it could have happened. And you could get bed bugs. And it'll give you something to think about when you're on the road or at sea.