Hey, did you read the recent newspaper item? My creator Carolyn did and she showed me the amazing article. It gave me a whole new view of myself. It was even better than those college students making roach robots! You see, the Pentagon’s Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency gave the Virginia Commonwealth University a million dollar grant---a MILLION dollars---to study us roaches. The fact that they will also be studying houseflies too---ugh, how could they couple us roaches with the housefly?---can’t even squelch my excitement! You see, this finally gives me a PURPOSE in life! They think we are so valuable they want to study us! They think we can confirm the presence of toxins inside contaminated buildings or subways. They think we can detect everything from anthrax spores to DNA! DNA---would you believe! WE WILL BE IMPORTANT! You see, in 1997 I wrote a letter to A’nonniemouse, the cartoon character created by Carolyn’s blind friend Russ. I just found the letter, and things haven’t changed much through the years. Read the letter and you will see what I mean. It’s a long letter, and Carolyn will post it in six parts. But now---now I have MEANING in my life! If it weren’t for the fact that those houseflies were categorized with us roaches, and also being used for research, life would be perfect!
And remember, DO NOT CRUSH OR CURSE that COCKROACH skittering about your kitchen. He’s no longer a persona non grata. He’s a MVR---MOST VALUABLE ROACH!!!! Ahh well, guess I’ll let you read the first part of this letter tomorrow night. DO click back tomorrow night, then click back each Monday night for the next five weeks so you can read ALL of it. I told you it was a long letter….Doodleoot for now!!! Cochran | 
