Terug naby 1999, Ek het spandeer baie weke in Santa Barbara, CA, werk vir 'n kliënt, leaving my poor wife back here in New Jersey alone. I dearly love my wife. I love her just as much today as I did when she foolishly married me 1,000 years or so ago. Iewers langs die lyn, Ek geskep om 'n frase, "special fear", as in "Samantha has special fears." She as a special fear of "bugs", wat aan haar is nie vlieë of ladybugs, but rather microbes. She’s afraid of this or that virus or unusual bacteria afflicting our son, of my, but never really herself. (Sy is ook spesiaal bang vampiere, miniatuur bose poppe (veral narre) en ondersese ongelukke; Sy het uit-gegroei haar spesiale vrees vir mense geklee in Santa Claus uitrustings).

Een dag, my co-worker and I decided to drive up into the nearby mountains near Ohai. At one point, we got out of the car to take in the scene. When we got back into the car, I noticed that a tick was on my shoulder. I flicked out the window and that was it.

Daardie aand, I told her about our drive and mentioned the tick. The conversation went something like this:

S: "Oooo! Those are bad. They carry diseases."

P: "Well, Ek gewip dit by die venster uit."

S: "They are really bad though. They can get under your skin and suck blood and transfer bugs. You better check your hair and make sure there aren’t any in your head!"

P: In 'n groot stem: "My God! CAN THEY TAKE OVER YOUR MIND???"

S: Letterlik my gerus te stel: "No, hulle is nie so sleg nie."

</einde>