Outdoor AversionSidetracked Sisters

I’m trying to think of my favorite outdoor activity and I’m struggling. I’m not one that chooses to do the outdoor things. Don’t get me wrong, I’ll do things outside if someone asks me to, but it’s not something that I’ll automatically choose if left to my own devices.

I remember living in my apartment in Waukesha right after having Bradley and Mom and Lisa came for a visit. It was a beautiful June day and they wanted me to get out in the sunshine for a bit. We started walking around the downtown and all I could think of and say was “I hate heat. I hate sweating.” All I wanted to do was go back to my air-conditioning and take a nap.

The other thing I don’t like about the outdoors would be the amount of bugs. Specifically the mosquitos, gnats, and bees. For some reason, I’m a magnet when it comes to mosquitos. Other people around me will be just fine, but I’m covered in a swarm of them and to make matters worse, I swell up like a balloon wherever I get bit. The gnats seem to love me also. When I’m out mowing lawn or just watering the flowers, the gnats are buzzing around, flying in my eyes and sticking to my face. Finally – the bees.

In my backyard, for some reason, I continue to get hives of ground bees. I’m not sure if that’s the actual name of them, but they burrow in the ground so that’s what I call them. For the past few years, I’ll be minding my own business, mowing the back yard and suddenly, I’m being attacked by a swarm of ground bees. Last year, I got stung about 5 times at once. Mom was over and she was laughing at me as I was jumping around trying to get away from them. They got me multiple times in the butt, on my inner thighs, the backs of my arms, etc. I’ve finally gotten smarter and a bit more wary about my mowing. I now look for any perfect circle quarter-sized holes in the ground and then watch to see if there are any bees.

Even though I have an aversion to outdoor activities, I’ll still go camping, canoeing, swimming, hiking, and other things. Just don’t expect me to come up with these brilliant ideas. That’s all up to you.