Ode to a Bee

The sunny Saturday had been going fine. Tree inventory in the morning - identifying and measuring and locating more than a hundred streets trees, then food shopping, a visit to the library, catching up with a former colleague and an invitation to eat drink and be merry with my neighbors. As I was sipping wine and eating a tru ly wonderful salad of garden tomatoes, a bee slipped between me and my sandal and had to sting me to find an exit.

Instantly, the day changed into serious business since I am allergic to some bee stings. I hopped over the fence between me and Doug and Kathleen and went to put my foot in icewater, Epipen in hand in case I had the shock that has happened before. I summoned my son to my side to be ready to cart me to the hospital if the reaction occurred, but luckily only the normal pain and swelling of a sting ensued. Nothing like a scare to make you appreciate the commonplace pleasures of the day.

The wet foot is the stung one. I think it looks swollen but perhaps the picture doesn't do it justice. Both of them are none too pretty!