Written by Online therapist Dr. Gloria Vanderhorst, Ph.D.

LINENS

Tablecloths, Cicadas, and the Mystery of Memory

Some linens carry elegance. Others carry stories. For individuals in Maryland and DC, this reflection explores how tablecloths become emotional artifacts—whether they’re embroidered with roses or, unexpectedly, cicadas.

I am talking about tablecloths. When a holiday rolls around, I want to set a fancy table. That requires a fancy tablecloth. So, on what holiday would you need a tablecloth covered with cicadas? Yep, you heard it right. If you look them up, they belong to a SUPERFAMILY of insects! Yikes. I know they are noisy. I know they are numerous when they decide to invade. I know they are all over the world. But what other insects are all over the world? I also know they hide in the ground and emerge every 13 to 17 years. Who does that? What is the matter with these bugs?

If you take the time to inspect one rather than running away, you will notice their big buggy eyes set on the sides of their heads. And they make this weird, scary sound by using tymbals in their abdomens. Tymbals are like drumheads that vibrate. If you were a drummer, I imagine you’d use fan sticks—not the hard wooden ones but the ones that look like brushes—whisking them across the top of the drum to create a kind of “whoosh” sound. Cicadas emerge from the ground in hoards. Yes, hoards. They land on you. They cover the sidewalks and the ground. It feels as though they want to cover you in insect bodies and drag you underground. Their noise is constant and creepy. Yikes!

Oops, I’ve gotten off track. This story is about linens, but cicadas play an essential part. When setting the holiday table, we dive into the China closet for the proper tablecloth. Now, remember, this happens only once or twice a year, so no one remembers the number, style, or design of the tablecloths. They all come out for inspection. Thankfully, they’re all in good condition, and a little touch-up with the iron makes any of them presentable.

But then, there’s one covered with cicadas. I don’t mean that those 13 to 17-year creatures have been hiding in the China closet. This is a tablecloth with repeated designs of cicada bugs! Good grief! Where did this come from? Who the… bought this and put it in my China closet? Fortunately, the linen is dark green and cream, so the details are limited. But still… Who bought—or worse, sent me—this tablecloth? Trust me, I did not buy a cicada-covered tablecloth. And I certainly don’t remember receiving such a thing.

But here it is. In my China closet! How did it sneak in here? Surely, I would have remembered getting something like this. Did a friend drop it by? Did I smile and say, “Oh, thank you so much, what a lovely gift. I adore bugs”? Did it come in one of those boxes from dead relatives, the kind where you shove things into closets and don’t look? Did an evil spirit sneak it into the closet when I wasn’t paying attention?

Would you like a cicada tablecloth?

Want to explore how linens evoke emotional connection and storytelling? Visit Zigpoll’s guide to emotional comfort in linens, FADFAY’s reflections on fabric and mood, and Laumė Linen’s insights on textiles and mental wellness.

If you’re reflecting on memory, emotional connection, or the stories hidden in everyday objects, therapy can help. Learn more about individual therapy in Maryland and DC or explore therapeutic approaches that support insight, healing, and personal storytelling.