“Dude, it’s cool!” Susan Toone, Part 1: Falling in love with bugs all over again

Editor's Note: MOD Voices is honored to present a blog mini-series by our friend Susan Toone!
 
Note to Readers: This blog does not contain scientific terms.
I wasn’t sure how much enthusiasm three teenagers, ranging in age from 13 – 15, were going to display when told I was taking them to the Museum of Discovery. They got really excited, like teenagers do. “Yeah, okay. Cool.”

Visiting the cow in "Room to Grow"

We were greeted at the museum by Borus the Sphinx Rat (who is hairless and jumped on his wheel immediately to impress us), Charles, a baby ball python whose body size has not yet caught up with his head, and Ginger, an Iguana who looks as if she has found her bliss.

Exhibits at the museum range from cool to creepy, from mystery to murder, from silliness to heartbreak. You can’t help but notice that Albert Einstein is to the museum what Nearly Headless Nick is to Hogwarts: an enthusiastic, friendly presence who gleefully peeps over the shoulders of children discovering their world through play.

My greatest learning experiences were twofold: how much I love bugs and how much science fiction owes to their behavior. You can’t help but think of Alien as you watch a spider deftly wrap a munchie in her web. Harry the Chinese Praying Mantis and his kin have obviously influenced the look of many aliens, both in look and manner. Although Harry also reminded me of Hannibal Lector, minus the fava beans and a good bottle of Chianti.

Susan Toone lives with her husband, two teenagers and two dogs in Little Rock. The husband and dogs are great; the teenagers are driving her crazy. She works at Acxiom and has a blog.


Editor's Note: Next, read more about Harry the Praying Mantis!