To a child’s eye a lightning-bug outshines the brightest fixed star. ~O. P. Fitzgerald,Methodist clergyman, journalist, and educator
I Monkey here.
Every summer night, when Mama takes me outside for my Final Pee-Call, she stands around staring into the back yard.
What’s she looking for?
Turns out, she’s not looking for something as much as looking at something.
She calls them Twinkle Bugs, and they seem to bring out the giddy little girl in her.
Golly, Mama, bugs??
And sometimes she bends over and closes her fingers gently around one, watching as it slowly crawls out and climbs up her arm.
And she giggles.
Yes, I know. Mama hates bugs. But maybe these things really aren’t bugs.
Maybe they’re little flickering fairy lights with legs.
Shoot, I Monkey don’t know. My mama is a study in contradiction.
That’s probably why I’m not any better trained than I am. After all, how is a wee Monkey expected to tell the difference between an “icky bug” in the house that Mama chases down with a plastic swatting device and a “good bug” outside that she wants to play with?
Could it be the “inside/outside” thing? Or the twinkling?
Anyway, Mama says she doesn’t want me going through life confused, so guess what?
She’s signed me up for the next level of Puppy School!!
I Monkey am so excited I can hardly stand it. I LOVE Puppy School — especially all the treats! And the happy encouragement and the chance to strut my stuff are pretty grand, too.
I’ll let you know how I get on with it, okay?
In the meantime, all Mama has to do is say, “Puppy School,” and my entire back end starts wiggling, and I become as giddy as she does when she plays with the Twinkle Bugs.
Now, lest you worry that I Monkey am chasing the Twinkle Bugs, I assure you I’m not. Mama thinks I can’t see them once their light flicks off, but I’m here to tell you they don’t taste all that good.
Especially when compared to cookies or Puppy School training treats!
Musings by an ND Domer's Mom 
I loved ‘twinkle bugs’ when I was little. I’d catch them, put them in an old peanut butter jar with holes punched in the lid and some damp grass inside, and put them on my bedroom window sill at night. I’d watch them twinkle until I fell asleep, and then let them go in the morning. I never let them crawl on me, though. It was enough to watch them. I do remember hearing that they don’t taste good — I’m glad you confirmed that!
Have fun at Puppy School! I have a friend with a new pup who could use some schooling. He arrived just before our most recent hurricane, though, so putting off school probably was inevitable.
Miss Linda, I Monkey love your memory about saving twinkle bugs in a jar. Mama said she tried doing that, too, but she always set them free before going to sleep (something about keeping them “prisoners” and fearing they’d come to an early death bothered her).
Puppy School is great, especially for us pups who didn’t get adequately socialized. Mine was because I Monkey am a Pandemic Puppy and was sick for the entire first year of life. Your friend’s pup would probably take to schooling well, now that the hurricane has finished.
Monkey, you had me laughing at the end of your post…
” but I’m here to tell you they don’t taste all that good.
Especially when compared to cookies or Puppy School training treats” – LOL!
And I’m envious that you and Mama got to see Twinkle Bugs because I haven’t seen those since I was a kid, during the summer months. In fact, I didn’t think they even existed anymore. Like Mama, I’m not fond of bugs. However, Twinkle Bugs (we called them Lightening Bugs) are the exception. They’re MAGICAL!
Looking forward to hearing all about Puppy School! And like the last time, I’m sure you’ll be a straight A student!
Happy Sunday to you and Mama! X
Mr. Ron, I Monkey am sorry you’re missing the Twinkle Bugs. We’d send you some, but they probably wouldn’t be alive when they got there (and who wants a jar of dead bugs??).
Mama read online that Twinkle Bugs actually can be toxic to cats, but they just give a pup digestive upset (and I Monkey sure don’t want anymore of that!)
I can’t wait for Puppy School! I’ll let you know how it goes. Wonder if I’ll get another prize upon graduation?!? xx
Yay, Monkey. Hope you have lots of fun at puppy school and get lots of treats, which will definitely taste better than twinkle bugs. Even though those bugs do look like fairy lights. 😉
Miss Laurie, I Monkey guess Mama’s right in thinking of them as fairy lights. I think she’s concerned because this year, we didn’t see as many of them as in past years. She doesn’t know why, but she read that once they leave an area, they don’t usually come back — and I Monkey know she’d miss them.
Twinkle bugs – what a great name for them!! I tend to call them fire flies now, but I called them lightning bugs when I was little.
Good luck with the new semester of school, Monkey! I look forward to hearing all about it! 😃
Miss Kelly, I Monkey thank you for your well wishes about Puppy School. It’s only for six weeks, but I guess that’s supposed to be enough to teach me more about how to be a good puppy. I don’t know. I think it’s all about the goodies!
I’m glad you experienced Twinkle Bugs when you were little, too. Aren’t they the most interesting flashing things??
Good for you and congratulations on puppy school, Monkey. Tempest just finished her first round and is headed for agility training after her spey recovery. Be sure to tell us all about your classes.
Agility training?? Oh, my goodness, Mr. John. That sounds wonderful! I Monkey must tell Mama about that right away. I’ll bet I could be a star there — I’m fast and agile, and I think I’d like going through those weave poles! Mama (the Wet Blanket) says I’m too stubborn, but what does she know? Huh. Oh, and tell Miss Tempeste good luck with the surgery!
I will tell her. Thank you for your good wishes, Monkey. Tell mom the trainers have a way to get stubborn kids to love the course.
Uh-oh, I Monkey have been trading on my muleishness for nearly four years now!
Hmmm. Well maybe mama is right.
I love the fireflies too…. Mr. Monkey! Sometimes when I go out to the tent (with or without little Penny) I just stand out there and watch the fireflies flit around. I remember catching them when I was a kid. They are facinating. I did a photo a couple years ago, of the Milky Way from a campsite at Interlochen and turns out I got a firefly or two in the image! So cool!
Miss Dawn, I’m happy I Monkey could spark a good memory for you! You sound like Mama, watching those Twinkle Bugs and remembering years gone by. They’re one of her delights during summer months.
Oh, and you mentioned Interlochen? Mama said to tell you she always wanted to go there (but never did). She still blames my grandparents for that decision, too. I Monkey think we ought to take a trip up that way now (well, after Puppy School, of course). It’s not like Mama has to punch a time clock or something!
Lightning bugs really are magical fairy lights, Monkey! 😉
Have fun in puppy school! What will you be learning?
Miss Eliza, I Monkey heard Mama talking with the teacher, and we’re supposed to build on what we learned the first time, adding more challenges, of course. Mama wants me to learn how to “Leave it” and “Come” when called. Huh, I come when I want to!
Good recall can be a lifesaver, Monkey. Very important to learn. 👍🏼 🙂
Only you, Monkey, would be curious about what twinkle bugs taste like. Curious enough to taste one and review the flavor. 😉 My grandchildren are like your Mama, they catch them and watch them crawl all over their hands and arms. A magical delight from childhood to remember. Enjoy your new semester of Puppy School!
Miss Barbara, I Monkey hate to disappoint you, but I had to look up the taste of Twinkle Bugs online. I wasn’t that curious!! However, I regularly eat flies and such — Mama finds them yucky, but a pup’s gotta do what a pup’s gotta do!
We called them “Lightening bugs” but I loved them as a child too! So your mom’s interest isn’t all that rare, although I can see why it’s hard for you to understand. And I’m glad you get to go back to puppy school, Monkey! I bet you will like it!
Lightening bugs is a good name for them, Miss Ann. I Monkey, though, am rather fearful of lightening because it brings thunder-booms, so if you don’t mind, I think I’ll stick with Twinkle Bugs. I hope I like this Puppy School; last time, I had Mama and the teacher all to myself, so I’m leery about sharing, heh heh!
Hi Monkey! Yorkie here. I love the idea of little flickering fairy lights with legs!!! It must be the twinkling that gets your mama giggling.
Sometimes I will sniff a bug, but mama says no. I have never eaten a bug. I save my tiny tummy for treats. I’m so excited that you are going to level two school.
Monkey what will you learn? You are already so smart. I learned to “step up” into the palm of mama’s hand and to “spin”. I can only spin in one direction. Maybe level two is learning to spin in the other direction?
Please do keep us posted on the doggos in the classroom, what you learn, how many cookies are earned, and what the grand prize is that I’m sure you will win!
Most important, have fun and keep your tail wiggling and your mama giggling!
Paws ❤️🐾🐾
Hi Yorkie! Hope you’ve been well. It’s always great hearing from you. I Monkey don’t know what to expect from level two of Puppy School. I imagine I’ll have classmates this time, so I won’t get undivided attention. Mama hopes I’ll learn to Drop It, when I pick up things on our walk that she doesn’t want me to have. We will see.
I don’t do “step up,” but I can shake Mama’s hand with my paw. And I’ve always been great at spinning — it’s a Sheltie-thing. Yes, I’ll post again as I know more about my classes. Thanks for your interest! Licks and Hugs, Monkey