Watch out for back stabbers!

Ken Johnston

What a way to end a camping trip... getting stabbed in the back!
No it is not what you are thinking a person did not do something behind my back to hurt my feelings... I literally was stabbed in the back.
But it was not by a knife although it hurt really bad.
I went camping with my parents over the weekend at Itasca State Park. If you have ever been there you know the cycling trails are to die for. So after we got the campsite all packed up on Sunday we decided to go for one last ride.
I returned to camp first and let the dog out for a walk and a drink of water. I had about a five minute lead on the parents so I was just about to sit down when I felt something on the back of my neck. For an instant I thought nothing of it, after all acorns had been falling on our camp all weekend.
Then I felt something go down the back of my shirt. Now anyone who knows me, knows I do not like bugs at all.
Well this was not just any bug, it was a hornet (or a wasp... I did not get to see it). Immediately it was peeved off at being stuck in my shirt and immediately I knew I had to get it out of there.
My shirt was tucked in so I could not shake it out the bottom. So I whipped off my hat and sunglasses and pulled the shirt off as quickly as possible to get rid of the little back stabber. But I was too late... he hit me twice.
I am sure I looked pretty goofy stripping off my shirt and jumping around the campsite cursing.
This was my second encounter with these critters this summer and the first time was no fun either.
However, this time was worse. I felt light headed and itchy everywhere almost immediately. Then I broke out in hives and itched for a while.
My mom gave me an antihistamine and a Tylenol... after a couple of hours the hives disappeared. Later this week it is off to see the Dr. to see if I need one of those emergency bee sting kits.
–Until then, Ken