My large vegetable garden is an organic one, so pesticides are out. Quite a few years back in my farming days I realized that having a wasp nest or two around has its benefits. These little guys are predators of other bugs and most of all, they really go for the caterpillars that make a mess of the cole crops. So when a colony of wasps made their nest in the eve of my house I let them be.

It has worked wonderfully well because the cabbage moths and their pesky caterpillar larvae don’t last long around here. I often run into the wasps during their hunting expeditions while I’m tending to or harvesting the garden; especially the cabbages, broccoli and cauliflower.
We have been maintaining a respectful co-existence and although it is strange to say, they seem to recognize me and know that I mean them no harm. Oh sure, I’ve had a few dive-bomb me and have also received a few taps on the head through that means upon occasion; mostly for setting the sprinkler’s spray too close to their nest, but none had stung me…until today.

I hold no grudge, for it was all a misunderstanding and was clearly a collision of the wasp’s instincts and my own. A little while ago while I was out collecting some broccoli for lunch, I saw the wasp fly up from a nearby zucchini plant blossom. I simply recognized that he had likely been searching for some ants that seem to collect there, for the wasps like to eat those guys too.

Now I don’t know if this wasp was the equivalent of “Wrong Way Charlie” or if he mistook my ear for another flower blossom, but in he went . Upon feeling him in there and hearing the buzzing of his struggles to back out, without thinking, I instinctively gave my ear a swat and he instinctively planted his stinger…right into the canal of my ear. Thereupon Mr. wasp made a break for it and I went into the depths of self-concern while making a stumbling speedy walk for the house; hand over my ear of course (as if that would help ).

I’ve been wedging fractured ice cubes in there and it seems to be settling down so I’m sure it will be fine; but initially it felt like instant Trigeminal Neuralgia. My cheek is still aching as is the ear; the latter of which has taken on an angry red hue. Yet, I’m grateful for the adrenalin and histamine surges that followed the sting because I think that is what got rid of the headache that I’ve had for 3 days!

I’d been praying for some relief of that stupid thing since the wee hours of this morning; and never being short on a sense of humor with me, He graciously answered my prayers.
I'm also praying for relief from the heat wave, but I've now added that I'd like to survive whatever method He chooses to use to accomplish that .

Hope that this brightens your day as it did mine.

With love, Erika