This morning, I was spraying something sticky off the pool deck when, OMG, I accidentally jetted a honey bee with a stream of water! My pulse quickened and my stomach sank as the poor dear rolled onto its back flailing in a puddle. I thought I had killed him, and for some reason, the song by Muddy Waters, “Honey Bee”, flew into my thoughts:
Sail on, sail on my little honey bee, sail on
Sail on, sail on my little honey bee, sail on
You gonna keep on sailing till you lose your happy home. (Enter guitar riff.)


I put down the hose and wondered what I should do — grab a stick or a leaf for him to climb up on. I had to save him, after all, I am a huge fan of saving the honey bee from extinction and here I was about to kill one with a careless act. Before this dope could think of a thing to do, the little yellow miracle rolled over and began to crawl toward my bare foot. I thought about pulling away, but realized my big toe was his safe haven. There was a very good chance he would sting me, but I figured I had it coming. Proving an island of sorts was the least I could endure for almost sending him into the pool on a tsunami-like wave.


One by one, the honey bee placed each little leg onto my toe and proceeded to crawl onto my foot, then my ankle, and finally, my leg. His touch was a delightful tickle and made me feel connected with nature. As it neared the edge of my capri pant leg, I said, “That could get a little too close for comfort, big guy.”
I flattened my pant hem to my skin and he crawled onto the blue jean fabric. He inched along like a parched man crossing the Sahara, so I put my hand down, picked him up and transferred him to a tender thyme leaf.
Thankfully, he recovered and presumably flew off to his happy home.



by Amber Galusha
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