My buddy Nadine over at All Along The Hightower posted a bee story earlier this week and reminded me that I never blogged about what we’ll call The Bee Incident.

My earliest memory of my first bee sting was when I was 4 years old.  Why is it we remember all the traumatic moments of childhood and not the rainbow and unicorn moments?  But I digress.  I remember our next door neighbor was a sweet little old lady in a wheelchair who used to hang out in her backyard and loved when one of us kids would be out there talking to her through our fence.

It was a warm summer day so naturally I was barefoot playing in the backyard and talking to the nice old lady next door.  My mom called me in for lunch, and as I was racing to the house, I stepped on a bee.  So of course the remainder of my race to the house was peppered with shrieks and screams as I tried to hop on one foot over what seemed like a terminal distance to the back door.

My mom removed the stinger and applied a concoction of baking soda and water to help with the pain. I still remember clearly watching her with fascination as she stirred with a click, click, click of the Popsicle stick she was using to mix the concoction in one of her small Tupperware bowls.

Fast forward to junior high, I was sitting on the grass minding my own business with some friends when I leaned onto my hand… which apparently landed right on a bee.  That stung my hand.  Not as much shrieking and screaming this time, but the same application of baking soda and water did the trick.

Fast forward again to a few years ago in our current house, I noticed every so often a yellow jacket somehow made it into the house.  These were a little different than the yellow jackets I crossed paths with during my childhood – these looked leaner and meaner.  We’d spray around the outside of the house to hopefully deter them into going somewhere else, but it seemed to be a never-ending problem.

Then we had the audacity to leave for a week and a half on vacation in Louisiana – upon our return I headed upstairs to the finished attic where my desk was set up with my computer to do some online catch-up.  As I reached the top step of the attic stairs, I heard an eerie humming sound.  Glancing around I couldn’t figure out where that odd sound was coming from, until I noticed unusual shadows through the closed blinds of the windows.

I peeked around the edge of the blinds and almost let out a scream, but luckily I kept my wits about me, held my breath and made a quick, silent exit (screaming in my head, of course) – making sure to close the attic floor door (you know the kind of door that’s inset into the floor), then the door at the bottom of the stairs to the attic as well, immediately seeking out the hubby and informing him that there were literally hundreds of bees buzzing in the attic.

He thought I might have been exaggerating on the ‘hundreds’ part, and had to go check it out for himself.  I don’t think I’ve seen him move that fast in years as he made a quick exit from the attic.  We ended up getting bombs for the house, bombed the attic (and the closets under the eaves of the attic) and retired to the Summer House to let the bombs do their job.

We discovered a small hole in the side of the siding where they were getting in and after they were all killed off, we plugged the hole to avoid any future bee invasion.  It was quite the task to vacuum up all those bee bodies afterwards – and not a pleasant one at that.  Thank goodness none of us got stung – especially since Princess Nagger was 4 at the time, ironically enough.  Luckily none of us are allergic – though I do say I’m allergic to pain.

Which brings me to this week’s question:

Have you ever been stung by a bee?  Are you allergic?

Have a great weekend.

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Happy Aloha Friday!

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From Kailani at An Island Life:
In Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day that we take it easy and look forward to the weekend. So on Fridays let’s take it easy on posting, too. Ask a simple question…nothing that requires a lengthy response. It’s a great way to make new blogging friends!

 

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23 Comments

  3. I’ve been stung several times, one sting at a time that is. Before Mum moved to a condo, she was complaining about a “crackling sound” in her downstairs family room. It didn’t take much investigation to discover a colony of bees had moved in between the walls. Talk about evacuation! No one would go back inside until the exterminators got the problem resolved. Then there was the time we had a hive in our eaves. Then under the roof tiles. And…in the back yard during BBQ season. They’re everywhere!!!!
    Rosemary
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  4. I’ve never actually been stung by a bee, but I’ve stepped on an almost dead bee. Not allergic, but it hurts!!

  5. I was innocently sitting in a car when I was twelve and a bee got trapped in the car with us. I was the one the bee took it’s panic out on. Not fun.
    We once had a hornets nest under our front porch. I shudder to think of the bodies that are still in there as Nick just plugged the hole they were using for access.
    I think I’d have refused to set foot in the house until everything was all cleaned up–I hate the buzzing, flying, stinging kind of bugs the most.

  10. Yikes! Yes, I have. No, I’m not allergic. I do have a “wasp incident,” though. I’d share here but I don’t want to hijack your page! 😀
    Smellyann would like you to read ..Friday FragmentsMy Profile

  11. I was stung once in 7th grade on my (non-writing) hand so not only did I end up with a sting, I couldn’t even get out of class. Not allergic thankfully as my mom is VERY allergic to bee stings but I would very much prefer to not experience that again.

  12. I have and I am. Deathly. I carry an Epi-pen with me at all times because I have an immediate anaphalatic reaction when stung by a bee. Ironically, My wasband (first husband of 23 years) was fifth generation beekeeper. Those dang little busy buggers put food on the table, clothed my babies and paid the bills but they could also end it for me at anytime. My allergy is so bad that my wsband had to strip down to his birthday suit when he came in the house from working with the bees (especially after moving them or pulling honey) and put his clothes dierectly in the washing machine, add soap and start it up. If he didn’t go from there into the shower I would start sneezing non-stop. Ugh… So glad that life is over! LOL
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  17. Yes I’ve been stung and it does hurt a lot! We had bees land in our yard about two summers ago. It was their resting place until they found a permanent home. It was a swarm and it scared us until we did some research on it. They usually leave within 72 hours and they did.
    Debby Pucci would like you to read ..WHAT I DID LAST WEEKENDMy Profile

  18. ” immediately seeking out the hubby and informing him that there were literally hundreds of bees buzzing in the attic.”

    OMG, Stacy, I would have FREAKED!

    And yes, I have been stung by a bee. In fact, it was a yellow jacket. It happened at a 4th of July party when I was a kid. And OMG…did it ever hurt because the bee stung me twice on the same hand. YIKES!
    Ron would like you to read ..The Voice Behind The BlogMy Profile

  19. Ok before anything else. UM you came to Louisiana and didn’t visit with me??? 🙂 *harumph* 🙂 just kidding.

    I’m so glad you guys are not allergic and that no one got hurt that last time. That is crazy. I’d have freaked out too!

    Oh yes and no, I’ve never been stung by a bee…or I can’t remember …but I’m sure not.
    JamericanSpice would like you to read ..I Give a Firm One – AlohaMy Profile

  20. The bee incident is truly interesting story as always, Stacy! I wanted to know that you inspired from your buddy to write up, but I’m impressed to read this heavy nice content. Looking forward more! 🙂

  22. Yes, when bees decide to move into someplace it can be very scary and dangerous. My mother had one wall that somehow have become a beehive:( They also got in by just a little crack and just made themselves at home. Glad no one was hurt. Thank you for sharing at Freedom Fridays. So hope you week is super terrific and bee free:)
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  23. I was stung once that I remember. I was either 5 or 6 and was out picking strawberries. Mom says I screamed like crazy out in the field all by myself. Luckily I wasn’t allergic. That must be awful, as if the sting alone wasn’t tramatic enough, some people have to worry about being allergic as well.
    Menopausal New Mom would like you to read ..Sunday Showcase Link Up Your Giveaways!My Profile

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