YOW, Surprise!

Oh. My. God. PAIN! Fire in my forearm ignited as I rapidly stepped back, dropping what I had been holding. I couldn’t believe what just happened for it had never before. And here I just got through saving a life when another of its kind stung me.

Last Friday a yellowjacket …. think huge black and yellow wasp … stung me on my right forearm. Before he could sting again, I brushed him off FAST! I had just rescued one of its kind from drowning in a hummingbird feeder and was about to go into the house to refill it. Evidently a yellowjacket got seriously pissed at me for taking the feeder down in my rescue effort and decided to tell me.

Never have any of them attacked me during all the many years I have been hanging these feeders.. When I heard one of my neighbors had been stung not once by twice in the very same week as I, he remarked this year for reasons unknown the bees are very aggressive, much more then usual, and actually attacking people.

In dropping the empty feeder I high tailed it back to the house loudly crying, OW OW OW! Hubby alerted by my cries met me in the kitchen and I told him to get the baking soda to make a paste. He was so upset and nervous he dumped half a box of baking soda in the dish and then he added too much water and had to add MORE baking soda.

*eye roll*

Meanwhile my arm was killing me! I became testy and began to yell, “Please hurry!” All bets were off on courtesy at that point with my arm in flames and Hubby stumbling and bumbling. Tween you and me I could have made a paste in a blink.

Finally a paste was put on my arm but unfortunately it did nothing to relieve the pain. Yellowjackets don’t leave a stinger behind but they do inject powerful toxins. My forearm swelled becoming quite red and painful. Come evening, I began to feel exceptionally funny almost as if I was stoned (which I haven’t experienced since my younger years) and I couldn’t function if you paid me. I passed out the moment my head hit the pillow.

The good news is I survived. I also followed up getting a blood test to rule out if I get stung again whether or not I would need an Epi-pen. I should be getting those results today.

I did not get pictures of the yellowjacket but I do have some flowers for you. And there is a very special one of Meaghan, taken through our living room window while outside shooting rose pictures. She is precious, more so now then ever for I’ve been feeding her by hand among other modalities. Why? Some cats when they are ill or beginning to go downhill will stop eating.

Meaghan is a wild born barn cat and like my other barn cats, it is inevitable they stop eating when they realize they are ill and will not get better. Instinct is deep and strong. I am not one of those cat Moms that will stand by and watch a baby starve. Some of you may not agree that I am doing the ethical thing, or think that I am going against Mother Nature. That’s OK. I am the one who has to live with my conscience.

The bond that develops between fur-kid and me when these times arise, goes deep, way beyond description. My heart runneth over with such tender love. Knowing I’ve done all I can within my power when these times arise, the tormenting “what ifs” are bar none when the time comes around to let go. And yes that time does come for all of us. That is a fact on this earth. There is only one way in and one way out of here. No exceptions to that rule. Ya can’t lie to or cheat death. Until that day comes, though, Meaghan is being given dignity and compassion and a whole lot of tender love.

 

Now for my roses.

Yes they are this bright. Those colors wrap themselves around the Soul itself.

Photography/ “YOW, Surprise!” /Aug. 2020©AmyRose
http://www.herladypinkrose.wordpress.com
All images watermarked for protection.