We are being stalked by an alligator

Charleston is a beautiful place, as I have said so many times. It also has its quarks. Being in the lowcountry area of South Carolina, it has somewhat of a swampy feel. There is extreme humidity; basically being drenched in sweat and hair frizzing up as soon as you leave the house. Bugs are everywhere. Even the cleanest houses have cockroaches, which are endearingly referred to as "palmetto bugs" here. To me, a cockroach, is a cockroach, is a cockroach. The end. In general, there are all sorts of weird bugs flying and crawling around everywhere. If you walk anywhere, you will most likely come across a turtle or frog. Whenever it rains, water pools every where you look. You need rubber boots just to walk in your own backyard. I can deal with the humidity, the bugs, the water, but one thing I will never get used to: ALLIGATORS

When my parents moved here, I was so surprised to find out that alligators in your neighborhood ponds are not only common, but very likely. I thought it was wild the first time I saw an alligator out sunning itself right by the road leading to our house. Going on a walk and seeing a large alligator close to the path still gives me the heebie jeebies. 

Oh hey mr. alligator

This alligator thing has been taken to a whole new level and I don't think I like it. We have a pond behind the house, in which a medium sized alligator lives. You know, a completely normal thing to have in your backyard pond. I used to never see the alligator, until a few weeks ago. Now, I see him every morning. My parent's puppy (or 65 pound brown ball of energy), goes out every morning and sits near the pond and looks out. After awhile, the alligator would start coming over. The alligator must be pretty smart, because he sits right by the bank behind our house every single morning, waiting for the dogs to come out. He sometimes swims back and forth. So, YES, we are being stalked by an alligator. 

It's hard to tell, but you can see his little face sticking up in the water right by the reflection of the window.

Look how close the pond is to our house! The alligator could come into the yard at any minute. 

My mom has been calling around trying to get the alligator removed. Hopefully I will not have to report that the alligator ate our dogs.

Until next time,