Luck Be a Ladybug

and why it's probably not a good idea to count on a gene mutation

Hi Friend,

A few weeks ago, I read an article about people who don’t get covid due to a gene mutation, and I wondered, could I be one of them? Maybe all of the anxiety and precautions from the past four years hadn’t been necessary because I had this special gift of protection.

Of course my next thought was, oh no, what if they want to lock me in a lab, and study me?

Silly me, not to worry! Naturally, events unfolded as follows:

• Entertain delusional sense of immunity ✔

• Contract a really uncomfortable case of Covid ✔

• Endure several fevers during a heat wave with no air conditioner ✔

• Mentally compose some choice feedback for whoever who named this the “flirt” variant ✔

• Continue recovering over a week later and take a lot of naps ✔

As of now, I feel somewhere between a worn out shoe and an over-folded piece of paper, but that’s better than I felt last week!

Since I can’t count on being bitten by a radioactive covid immune spider, I had to turn to other creatures for support. Ladybugs symbolize protection, resilience, and adaptability, as well as luck, good fortune and happiness. Which all sounds really fantastic.

Tanya Madoff, Luck be a Ladybug (2024)

I started out with some red watercolor blobs and green leaf shapes. Once dried, I added the head, thorax, and other details with black pen and marker.

Did you know that not all ladybugs are ladies? The males are generally smaller than the females. In any case, if you’re in need of some good vibes, these sweet ladybugs are for you too.

xo

Tanya