Look both ways before you stop!

I was coming out of my craft shed when Allison passed by and muttered something about selling his car.  We stopped to talk for a few minutes.  I was standing on the small wooden walk.  Suddenly, my feet were being chewed upon by a million red fire ants.  Whoever wrote the song about the ants marching one by one was not talking about red fire ants.  It took a minute to register, and then I looked down at my feet.  I started to yell and dance up and down.  ”Oh, my goodness (breathless), oh my goodness (less breathless, more emphasis) OH MY GOODNESS, THIS HURTS!” I ran as fast as I could(which isn’t so very fast, however it was enough) to the water pipe on the veranda.  I didn’t even bother to take off my sandals.  The water couldn’t come cold enough or strong enough.  ”Oh, my, oh, my.”  They had reached my capris and I was getting a little panicky.  ”Oh, this hurts so much!”  Yes, I was such a baby, no excuses, just the facts.  When being attacked by fire ants there is no room for decorum or courage.  It is all about relief.  After finally brushing them off of my sandals, they are tenacious, I ran inside and filled a basin with hot water and baking soda.  I could only think of getting my feet in that water and I was dreaming of relief.  I pushed my feet into the water and felt the panic subside with the soothing of the baking soda.  I do love baking soda!  When I finally opened my eyes and looked I saw many little ants floating aimlessly in the milky water.  Ron came in to check on my and let me know that last Sunday he informed the church that he believes that mosquitos and fire ants were definitely part of the fall, they could not have been the design of a perfect creation!  Well, maybe now I will remember the rule – look both ways before you stop to chat – up for sun or rain clouds, down for fire ants!

 

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