Bees and I have always gotten along. I know there are lots of theories but the one I like is that they sense you are “earthy”, non-threatening and calm. Although I can’t say that’s always true. When I see bees, I do remember to take deep breaths, keep my movements slow and deliberate and most of all remember they are very small.

     I told you that my friend next door had a manmade Beehive in her back yard. It was in the far back corner butted up against the garage and an old picked fence. Every once and awhile the beekeeper would come and check on the bees. He was a very nice man and had all the right equipment to handle the bees properly. He was also very informative. I could ask as many questions as I wanted, and he always answered. The most important information was that bees do not want to hurt anyone. They just want to build their home and make honey. He explained that when a bee does attack it is because it is scared. Often if a bee stings it dies. It has to be really scared to actually hurt anyone. I could relate to that feeling. Being so scared that you feel like you have to do something to defend yourself, even if it hurts you. 

     Knowing that bees are non-aggressive was comforting. He also said that the buzzing noise was basically the bees’ footsteps. When they fly their wings move really fast, and that is what we hear. When they want to communicate or when they get worried, they make a louder sound. The way to work around bees is to not scare them. If you do accidentally scare them, then stop long enough for the sound to quiet down, then they know they are safe again. He did share other information too. They do not like smoke. If he wants them to move all he has to do is produce smoke and they move willingly.

     This information allowed me to play in the neighbor’s yard without any concern about being stung. If a ball or other object ended up by the hive, I would just walk slowly over and get it. This amazed my brother Mark. He dared me to touch the hive, so I did. I probably mouthed off that I could sit on the hive and not get stung. The dare was on. I very slowly and carefully climbed the fence next to it. Paused for the buzzing to quiet down and gently moved my butt over. I knew not to make any sudden moves. As the bees covered me, I told him, they do not want to hurt anyone they just do not want to be hurt either. I slowly climbed back down and walked back to our yard.

     Mark had an idea and a good one. He said we could make money off this!  He would make bets with the neighbor kids that his sister could sit on the beehive without getting stung. If I chickened out or got stung, they would win but if I was successful, they would pay us. 

     The kids would gather in our yard to watch. I would slowly and gently climb the fence and cautiously slide my butt onto the hive. The first time was just a few kids. They told their friends and we made money. Unfortunately, it did not take long for all the kids in the neighborhood to see me covered in bees, so it was not a steady income. I’m also sure it was just some change that we “won”, but when you have nothing, a few pennies is something, it bought us See’s candy bags 😊. 

     When I was younger I was told that bees shouldn’t fly. Their wings are too small for their body weight. I remember being told that they only fly because no one told them they couldn’t. Science has caught up now and it turns out that bees just have to work extra hard to fly. They have two sets of wings, and they function similar to how we breath. Honeybees can flap their wings over 230 times a second. This extra work allows them to carry loads that other insects could not handle. They do it as effortlessly as we breathe.

     Bees are pretty amazing. I do not recommend sitting on or even going near beehives unless you are properly trained and have the right equipment. Bees can also be dangerous if they are threatened, or if you have an allergy. Another incredible feature about bees is they will fight together if they see another of their kind in distress. If you attack their home, they will join together and create a powerful force. 

     Nature always amazes me and often gives an example. When I hear that saying, “Hurting people, hurt people.” I think of bees. They don’t want to attack; they just want to live their lives. People get like that too. We can get so scared that we’ll lash out with everything we have; even if it hurts us.