Cicadas still exist.

Not eight minutes and twenty seconds?

Not even an edit: I typed this then realized I was thinking of the speed of light, not sound. Sorry for doubting you.

We’d probably be safe from the “Quiet Place” monsters, at least.

I’m so glad you said this so I didn’t have to.

edit: This song was originally sung by the group “Men Without Hats.” Because of that, it always reminds me of the webcomic “[http://meninhats.com/](Men in Hats),” which is excellent. If you haven’t read it, you should.

edit 2: apparently my linkage didn’t work, I guess because of the quotes? Sorry about that.

Despite my sassy teasing, I liked you already based on our initial interaction.

I like you better now.

The information in your post is useful and appreciated.

But Ford was Zaphod’s cousin, not nuclear family member, so your username is unacceptable.

I just remembered, also don’t his parents move in with him at some point? That seems weird.

That sounds familiar.

I remember two specific parts (sadly without many details):

At one point, the protagonist kills an animal and finds himself staring at a particular organ, apparently craving the nutrients provided by that organ.

At another point, he boils water in a leaf, observing that a leaf will never burn below the top of the water due to the water keeping the leaf moist.

I probably should know whether either of those claims are realistic, but I’ve never been in a survival situation and I still don’t know to this day.

I was homeschooled from age 7 to age 11 and read the book in a similar timeframe. My parents had some trouble getting bureaucratic approval to take us out of school. IIRC about the book, the main character just took a sabbatical from school, entirely withdrawing without an alternative education plan. I remember wondering about the logistics of that, which I guess is why the point sticks in my mind.

I think the heron slash might have been the catalyst for the whole story, otherwise I don’t know why it might have stayed with me.

I do also remember liking all three books, even though Little Tree - presented as an autobiography - turned out to be a lie. It’s still enjoyable as fiction.

Hey wait … I’m in a comment section now!

The only things I remember about the story are the protagonist getting a sabbatical from school and getting slashed by the beak of a heron. Did those things happen in that book?

Also, did you like My Side of the Mountain and The Education of Little Tree?

Last question … Were your parents hippies, too?

(This post might age me somewhat.)

Possibly a lawyer.

Maybe even specializing in bird law.

Memes get old. Often pretty quickly.

Subversions are wonderful.

The message would be better and more sympathetically conveyed without any emoji, but if you have to have one, this seems appropriate.

We three were on the same page.

Fortunately, the vast majority of what I drink is water, which apparently doesn’t appeal to spiders. I do look in my cups as I sip from them now, but arachnid presence does not appear to be a prevailing threat for most of what I consume.

I try to improve the days of strangers by offering compliments that (hopefully) clearly have no ulterior motive. The two easiest ways I’ve found to do this are a. Offer the compliment in passing so that it is obvious I’m not asking for anything as a follow-up because I’ve already walked away and b. Compliment things that took time, effort or courage (like an elaborate hairstyle or colorful makeup).

Metaphorically speaking as a man with a beard, I appreciate men with beards because the man in question is often very pleased with his beard and, in most cases, took time to develop it. Therefore, it’s nearly universally a safe thing to compliment. I’ve never once complimented a beard and not gotten a grin and at least brief conversation as a result. Sometimes I’ll even get a brotherly slap on the back.

Maybe OP got a lot of - or even a few - compliments on his beard, regardless of the state of his jaw, and it boosted his ego.

What happened on Wednesday?

edit: also, What Happened to Monday?

It’s not a word one sees often, agreed, but I love it.