Stuff You Missed in History Class Behind the Scenes Minis: Ticks and Spiders
Oct 3, 2025
GPS fail leads to a quirky discussion about Lyme disease clusters in Connecticut. Tracy shares childhood tick-tracking memories, while Holly connects their insect aversion to the dangers of vector-borne illnesses. The duo dives into the impact of diseases on personal lives and drum corps. Laughs ensue over pop culture references and spider-friendly pest control strategies. Joro spiders steal the spotlight, bringing Halloween cheer and a love for nature's creepy crawlers.
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Wrong GPS Took Her Down Unsafe Road
- Tracy describes GPS sending her down a road meant for snowmobiles or bikes, which led her to file reports with Google.
- She connects that bad routing to clustered Lyme disease cases she later researched in East Haddam, Connecticut.
Tick Panic Became A Marriage Nickname
- Tracy tells how a friend had West Nile and how another tick encounter earned her the nickname 'Brian's prissy city wife.'
- The tick incident early in her marriage shaped family perceptions humorously.
Mother Tracked Tick Bites On The Calendar
- Tracy recalls growing up in North Carolina where her mother logged tick removals on a calendar to track symptoms.
- She also remembers a drum corps roommate who contracted Rocky Mountain spotted fever and had to quit.