A letter to Chickie

This is the last half of a letter, one of many that I have written to this special friend. I've added it as an entry because of what I wrote about insects.

I never paid any mind to spiders before. I used to ignore their presence. I was told that they get rid of other pesky insects and bugs. But when one brown spider nibbled at my face and ear lobe during a moonlit night, spiders were put first in line of pests to kill, maim and destroy. I bet I can win the race with Garfield, the cat at swatting those little devils.

Well, with all the lights coming from the computer and TV equipment in my room, I briefly eyed that spider that started the war, but I was in twilight sleep, and was oblivious to the attack. Why me?

Now I abhor spiders as well as those nasty bees! Well, I will only hate them for a while; after all, they are God's creatures, too.

One day, I will write more about my family's encounters with bees. Here's part of that letter:
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You know, Chickie, I used to brag that insects stayed away from me or I might just get a couple of tiny bites during the whole season, except, of course for the couple of bee stings that was rendered upon me a few years back. Did I ever tell you about the time I was bitten on my big toe by a hornet? I was in the backyard mowing the lawn when it happened. You never saw a person run so fast into the house. As I neared the kitchen, I shook my sandals off. That son-of-a-gun of a bee was still clinging to my toe; repeatedly biting me, and the pain was excruciating. I ripped the sock off my foot and tossed it aside. I then ran into my bedroom locking the door after me. I don't know how long I stayed inside my bedroom holding my injured foot and praying that the pain would soon lessen when at last I heard one of the kids coming into the house. Without opening the door, I yelled for him to look for the bee that attacked me. He found it smashed on the kitchen floor. Boy, when your adrenaline gets going, you can do almost anything.

The second occurrence was just as traumatic. A bee that had gained access by flying up my Caftan as I was innocently walking in the backyard stung me. The bee flew up to my armpits and had its way with me. Do you remember that occurrence? No wonder all my kids are somewhat cautious when bees are flying about. They grew up with two parents deathly afraid of flying insects. Somehow, I ran faster than Artie when the bees flew near us. When we chose to eat out on the patio under the umbrella table, not even a light rain would chase us away, but approaching yellow jackets would end the dining experience outdoors in a flash. Dottie would be the first to run into the house. Again, that’s ridiculous, isn't it?

Well getting back to mosquito or other insect bites, over the weekend I must have been bitten by something. I had a lump on the side of my head near the hairline and at the same time, my right ear was itching. I found myself scratching both areas, but then I practiced some discipline and stopped irritating the areas. The swelling and redness still persists, although the marks are not bothering me as much and they appear to be getting better. Then I started scratching my left foreleg, the shin I guess, and what a bruiser of a swelling developed there. It might have been the same insect. I don't know; somehow I suspect a spider; it’s too early for mosquitoes, I believe. Now that I recall it, there was something in flight or hanging about a foot away from my eyes as I turned around in bed, briefly opening my eyes. Could be that that's what bit me? The bites were small round marks, not unlike sizeable mosquito bites, but a large area of each bite was surrounded by redness making the injuries about two and a half inches in diameter. I hope this is the last of it. I wonder if taking any of my medicines, especially the daily dose of Ecotrin, Celebrex, and Zocor had anything to do with making my blood tempting to insects. Well I’ll soon see what happens this summer, I guess. For sure, I'll not wear any kind of perfume to attract attention.

Other than what has happened since my return from the Catskills, Richie and I will be attending a wedding in Manassas, VA on the 21st of June. My brother, Jimmy's second daughter, Nancy and her fiancé are tying the knot at the Holiday Inn in that historical town. All the relatives have been invited, and as far as the immediate family, it's only Richie and I who will attend. Nevertheless, I know we will have a great time visiting with relatives and other friends from there. We'll leave from home on the Friday before the wedding and stay two days.

I didn't expect to write such a long letter, but I owe you one, and you started it when you asked how things were. Richie and I are still going to the Writing.Com's 2nd Convention. This time, it is being held in King of Prussia, PA. And the Convention activities will last four days. My son, Pat will be alone that weekend, because Roseann and Danny are going away at the same time we are, but they are going Upstate. They're taking along little Courtney, a grand niece from PA, and they will join up with three other couples, two of which have a total of three kids between them.

So when are you contemplating a visit to New York? It would certainly be great to see you in person again.

Take care, my friend, and remind me once in a while to write from home. Just a couple of words from you will be rewarded with a flood of expressions in text from me, and I love every minute of writing these letters.
Love, Dottie
Written on Friday, May 30, 2003