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Are there really any good bee encounters? Not with me anyway. I can't stand those things! I can remember one encounter with a bee was when I was driving and one flew into my car, when I went to swat it away I broke my rearview mirror off. Another bee encounter happened when I went to throw out the trash, when I lifted the top of the garbage can  I got stung on my hand twice!! Bees and me don't mix, but I did enjoy the movie :) .

I was about 4 years old visiting my great aunt and many other relatives up in Michigan.  My older brother, cousins and I were playing in a camper a few hundred feet from the house (where all the adults were) and they made me go back to the house alone to get marshmallows.   After I charmed the marshmallows out of the adults, I started walking back to the camper when a bee strung me right on the leg!  I just remember dropping the marshmallows and running back into the house.  All the adults were taking care of me - making me feel better - when 20 or so minutes past before my brother and cousins came back looking for me!  My great-uncle spent a good part of the afternoon hunting down the bee hive...Now, whenever we get together with that part of our family, that story always returns.

As a teen we were camping with my family.  I was in the tent with my younger siblings.  My sister, who is 10 years younger than me, started freaking out that there was a bee in the tent with us.  "Help me out Deb, help me out!" was all she could keep yelling!  I was in hysterics (of course being a teenager)  She did not appreciate that at all.  Who got stung?  Me.  Not so funny anymore. 

 
She didn't laugh at me, she just climbed into my lap and hugged me.

When I was about 8 years old I was riding my bike past a stop sign that had a nest on the back of it. I got stung by at least 10 bees , then had to get myself home with my bike! My neighbor was a Dr, luckily and was able to give me something. I haven't bee stung since, thank goodness! My mom did give me a fudgsicle that day, so that helped!

On my way home after hanging out with friends in the city ... it was around 230 a.m. on a summer morning while driving south on Lake Shore Dr. by myself  I felt something went in inside my shorts, didn't think of anything until it started to kind of wiggle. I started to freak out a little bit but since I was driving at least 45mph- 50 mph on the far left hand side of the lane I cuoldn't pull over so I changed lanes and pulled over to the right and on the shoulder, jumped out and started shakin' off whatever it was in my shorts. and guess what? it was a BEE!  probably didn't know how to get out and just started to wiggle his way in.

I avoid bees at all costs, probably like everyone else. So yes I am one of those crazies running around flaling my arms and ducking around.  My worst encounter I remember is when I was a child and got stung on the foot, because I was not wearing shoes.  My step-mom told me to run and find mud and put mud on the sting it would take away the pain.  I can't remember if it worked but I do remember thinking "I really hope none of my friends see me withmud on my foot, they will surely think I am a dirty person."  I don't know if the bee encounter was so bad but definately the remedy was the worst.

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Stacy, Aurora

It's funny, but the only thing I can remember (concearning bees) is feeling anger by being attacked for no particular reason on a beautiful sunny day : )

My son was playing in a friend's backyard without a shirt when a bee stung him in the chest.  He had never been stung before, and apparently had an exaggerated sense of their danger.  When he told me about the incident, he was wide-eyed with alarm when he informed me that the bee-sting was "only an inch from his heart!"  Fortunately, he survived the encounter.

I was stuck in a jungle gym at school while on recess. It seemed the bee was able to sense the fear I felt and came in to attack.

It wasn't the most traumatic experience, by any means, but having been stung by bees before, I knew it couldn't be a good thing.

Dennis

I have never been stung by a bee (Knock on wood!), but my 6 year old daughter was last summer and it broke my heart. Obviously she was fine, but what a terrible feeling to see your child in pain! She is very cautious of bees now, but getting better. Thanks!

My Husband was about 8 or 9 - they had a cottage in Michigan. He was playing in leaves in the back and stepped on a bee hive-  HOLY COW! it was about 100 yards to the house - he ran and the bees chased him all the way into the house - His dad said their had to be 100 bees chasing him only 2 got in the house- he was stung 8 times - I guess he runs pretty fast

 

Congratulations to the following Chicago Parent readers. You have won "Bee Movie" on DVD. Thank you to everyone who participated and good luck in future contests.

kevkelmom
heatherdavey
calhounal
sgthemagnificent
JT Pipilas
 

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Kate Pancero
Assistant Editor/Weekend E-dition Editor
FabMama columnist
Chicago Parent