Yellow Jacket Blues - or reds...

For three days and nights now, I've been camping in the lovely Lake Powhatan National Campground, waiting for my veggie oil fellow to clean and dewater 70 gallons of veggie oil for me so I can hit the road.

Every day, when I sat at the picnic table, with my computer or papers, my water bottle and coffee cup, working on my jigsaw puzzle or just writing, a lone yellow jacket came within minutes of me sitting down and stayed until I packed away my things - hang out and explored every item I had on the table so I had to be mindful when I picked up my coffee mug or water bottle to make sure I didn't inadvertently land on it.

I believe it was the same singular yellow jacket, as he never summonized any others, which in my experience they seem to do if they discover a food source.

We co-existed in harmony the whole time - until the very last day. I packed up all my belongings, secured the windows, shelves, fridge, and items in the camper, checked my oil level and moments before getting ready to pull out, I stood on the ground outside the camper door, taking one last look around to make sure I didn't forget anything.

And that's when it happened! I leaned over the floor edge to get a better look inside and felt the sharp pain of a yellow jacket bite or sting. The creature was squashed under my forearm.

And I have a two inch painful, itchy red reactive welt I'm taking away with me....grrrrr