Being eye-balled by a bee...
This is going to sound crazy.
Last week, while on retreat, I got stung by a bee-like thing -- it got smooshed, I suppose it's possible it was some other yellow and black striped stinging insect.
A day later, I almost had second thoughts about heading over to the beehive that's on the monastery property, but I wanted to illustrate community, so off I went.
I was pretty cautious, snapping photos from what felt like a safe distance ...
but I wanted better photos ...
and the bees were so tiny ....
and then I stepped into a bee's flight-path.
It bounced off my upper back (right between the shoulder blades) and into my hair.
I squeaked (well, wouldn't you?) but stayed calm, backing away from the hive in case another one ran into me, giving the caught bee a chance to escape on its own.
No such luck: it was clearly tangled in my fine, curly hair. So I took off my hat and fluffed my hair forward, freeing the bee.
Which bounced back onto my upper arm. Twice.
I didn't need three times to know it wasn't happy (but I got it) and so I walked away from the hive (sadly, all the while talking to the bee). Ever been escorted by a bee? It's the weirdest sensation.
I got what I thought was a good distance away from the hive but the bee disagreed.
It buzzed in front of me, landed on my camera (and it would've been a really good photo, except, well, it was on the camera), and then launched itself up, hovering right before my face, a few handspans away.
It might have been giving me the hairy eyeball (or several hundred, I guess, given its physiology), or something else, but it was really cool.
I told the bee that I got the message and I kept moving away. Another ten feet and it let me be.
Aside from the adrenalin rush, I was thankful for the fact that the bee chose not to sting me. Thinking about it much later, I also wondered if it was either a) rescuing me from being too close to the beehive (aka stupid human); or b) thanking me for not squashing it and generally freaking out either while it was stuck in my hair or afterward.
That evening, while I was sharing this with my husband via the phone (he's allergic to bees and thus deathly afraid of them), a bee bopped me on the arm. Twice.
I said, aloud (I know, I need help), "Oh come on! I'm miles away from your hive!" and it let me be...
So whether this is all anthropomorphizing (your big word for the day) or a gift to accept from God is up to you, the reader.
Oh and yeah, next time I'm keeping a respectful distance. Linking up with:
Last week, while on retreat, I got stung by a bee-like thing -- it got smooshed, I suppose it's possible it was some other yellow and black striped stinging insect.
A day later, I almost had second thoughts about heading over to the beehive that's on the monastery property, but I wanted to illustrate community, so off I went.
I was pretty cautious, snapping photos from what felt like a safe distance ...
 |
| (camera zoomed to the max) |
but I wanted better photos ...
and the bees were so tiny ....
and then I stepped into a bee's flight-path.
It bounced off my upper back (right between the shoulder blades) and into my hair.
I squeaked (well, wouldn't you?) but stayed calm, backing away from the hive in case another one ran into me, giving the caught bee a chance to escape on its own.
No such luck: it was clearly tangled in my fine, curly hair. So I took off my hat and fluffed my hair forward, freeing the bee.
Which bounced back onto my upper arm. Twice.
I didn't need three times to know it wasn't happy (but I got it) and so I walked away from the hive (sadly, all the while talking to the bee). Ever been escorted by a bee? It's the weirdest sensation.
I got what I thought was a good distance away from the hive but the bee disagreed.
It buzzed in front of me, landed on my camera (and it would've been a really good photo, except, well, it was on the camera), and then launched itself up, hovering right before my face, a few handspans away.
It might have been giving me the hairy eyeball (or several hundred, I guess, given its physiology), or something else, but it was really cool.
I told the bee that I got the message and I kept moving away. Another ten feet and it let me be.
Aside from the adrenalin rush, I was thankful for the fact that the bee chose not to sting me. Thinking about it much later, I also wondered if it was either a) rescuing me from being too close to the beehive (aka stupid human); or b) thanking me for not squashing it and generally freaking out either while it was stuck in my hair or afterward.
That evening, while I was sharing this with my husband via the phone (he's allergic to bees and thus deathly afraid of them), a bee bopped me on the arm. Twice.
I said, aloud (I know, I need help), "Oh come on! I'm miles away from your hive!" and it let me be...
So whether this is all anthropomorphizing (your big word for the day) or a gift to accept from God is up to you, the reader.
Oh and yeah, next time I'm keeping a respectful distance. Linking up with:
How funny!
ReplyDeleteBees are interesting creatures, for sure!
When I was a young kid, I was stung by the yellow jackets over and over again. They'd fly past, turn around, and come back and get me. I actually became a bit frightened of them, of course. NOW? I hardly react and no bees of any kind seem to head my direction any more.
ReplyDeleteBeing careful is a good thing, doncha think? Glad you're not terribly hurt. And you're one brave lady.
Yeah, I'm glad I wasn't hurt too! And I suspect that I was stung by a yellow jacket the day before. The yellow stripes were a little too yellow for a bee, so I'm glad I'm squashed it. I don't like wasps -- I usually move straight away. I was stung by a bee when I was a kid and all I remember is the pain -- it was on the sole of my foot!
ReplyDeleteI am definitely going to be more careful in future. Besides, there's only so many pictures you can take of a beehive!
What a scary experience! But at the same time, probably very beautiful in its own way. Thanks for sharing! :)
ReplyDelete