Thursday, April 29, 2010

Man Bites Bee



I have been stung by a bee only once in my life, and it was when I was 27 years old. I’d been worried for ages that I was allergic and didn’t know it. It crossed my mind before going on long hikes or backpacking trips where I wouldn’t have access to medical help if I was stung and it turned out I had a bad allergy. I thought about trying to get stung to see how I reacted, but frankly, that seemed a bit insane. Finally, I was biking home through downtown Minneapolis when I ran into a bee flying the opposite direction. It stung me right on my kneecap. I wondered if I should find someone on the sidewalk and tell them just in case I went into shock. Then for awhile I was so nervous that I might be allergic, that my heart was racing and paranoia crept up my spine, making me think that an allergic reaction was setting in. Turns out I was just freaking out. Either way, if I can’t keep calm through a minor emergency like a bee sting, you might want to think twice before heading into the backcountry with me.

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