Sometimes life provides us with a clear analogy to show us what is going on in our lives. Such a one happened to me this week.
As I was going out my door I stopped short for on the screen/storm door was a wasp that appeared to be on my side of the door. Not wanting to let him in the house I quickly shut the house door.
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| Not my storm door but one just like it. |
I went out the back door and came around to the front in hopes of shooing him outside. That was when I noticed, he was not on the house side of the storm door but inside the door. The door has a glass side and a screen side and he was between the two surfaces. Trapped.
How he got there is unknown for there is zero gap where he could have entered. I checked for holes in the screen but there were none. It was all tight and secure.
Now the glass part should slide up so the screen is exposed but I've never really used it for its designed purpose and 16 years had frozen the tabs. They wouldn't budge. I couldn't just let him out like I wanted.
The poor wasp was frantic. Up and down the door he crawled in an attempt to find an escape. It is also quite hot, 96 degrees so his imprisonment had to be quite uncomfortable. If the wasp had been threatening me, I would have just taken a fly swatter to the screen and ended his dilemma but he wasn't even aware of me.
I almost resorted to cutting a hole in the screen but instead tried to pry the two surfaces apart with a screwdriver and managed to open the bottom of the screen by about a half inch and propped it open. Thinking he would eventually find his way out, I left him to figure it out.
Ten minutes later, he was still frantically flailing about, even crawling over the opening. I took a piece of lumber like a squeegee and forced him to the bottom of the door. Finally he popped out and thankfully he didn't sting me for my efforts.
So where is the analogy in all this? Normally I probably would have just mercifully put the creature out of his misery but his being trapped resonated with what I have sometimes been feeling with all this isolation for the past 6 months. I have occasionally felt his anguish, frustration and panic that sometimes wells up and drowns out optimism, patience and hope. I could relate to the little guy and felt I had to set him free. He was me.
Oddly setting him free made me feel a little bit freer myself. Fortunately for me despair has a short shelf life and I am once again positive Patti. Thank you little wasp.
Now quit terrorizing the hummingbirds at their feeder or you will feel the fly swatter.
It does make you wonder how the heck he got in there. I am not a fan of wasps, but I would probably have done the same thing you did. You Are a good person, Patti. :-)
ReplyDeleteDjan,
DeleteAww thanks. I just couldn't stand to see him trapped like that. He was out of his little waspy mind.
I have a door set up just like that and often have to free crickets and flying things who get trapped. But things that sting could kill me as I'm allergic so I'd spray them and apologize for doing it.
ReplyDeleteBut I know what you mean about how it feels good to give other living things out of a jam. I once had a bird catch its foot on a bird feed and couldn't get free. I put on rubber gloves and gave him a hand, then threw the feeder away so it wouldn't happen to another.
Jean,
DeleteHow on earth do they get in there? I think your rescue would have given more satisfaction. Glad you threw it away.
Patti, I think Buddha would be very proud—it’s one thing to put your feet in another person’s shoes, but you put yours in a wasps! You’re such a good-hearted person... and a good writer. I feel lucky to know you. :-)
ReplyDeleteDoug,
DeleteAww thanks so much and right back at ya.
He did have tiny feet:))
Aww,,, you're a softie. I like you even better now.
ReplyDeleteI have crickets INSIDE my house but I trap them in a turned over glass and then watch them gleefully fly away when I get them outdoors. Makes me feel better about myself !
Ginnie,
DeleteMy grandmother said crickets in the house is good luck. That glass trick works great doesn't it?
Oh I love that story. But now you must fix that hole in the screen. 96 degrees is horrific on it's own but to be trapped and hard to breathe - geez that's awful. You're a good soul Patti!!
ReplyDeleteMargaret,
DeleteThanks, I try--sometimes. Actually the place I pried open, snapped right back in place. Just need to figure out how he got in there.
Aww, you made me think of my husband who now, I am quite convinced, resides in animal heaven. The day day I was screaming about a cockroach and then watched him do the cup and release outside thing . . . REALLY!???
ReplyDeleteOlga,
DeleteLucky you to have had a go to guy. I'm sure he is keeping heaven roach free or if not free, comfortable:)) If I had a choice,I would holler first too.
Human beings are social beings. We were not meant to be alone and isolated. Hopefully, things will improve with the new vaccine.
ReplyDeletegigi,
DeleteMost times I am OK with all this but sometimes it can get to me. Fortunately it doesn't last long.
That was so nice of you. We get wasps in our sun room sometimes. My mood (and their aggressiveness) determines how much effort I put into getting them back outside. They do not recognize an open door.
ReplyDeleteSue,
DeleteI know, why can't they find the way out. This guy walked over the opening several times.
And yes, had he shown aggressiveness, this would have had a different ending.
Glad your compassionate nature freed the little creature, Patti. It likely squeezed in through the drain holes in the channel where the glass and the screen sit. I've taken down my jelly feeders for the season because the wasp clan were far too keen on it.
ReplyDeleteFlorence,
DeleteTHANK YOU. I think you are right and that solves the mystery of how he got stuck.
I get them around my hummingbird feeder. I try to chase them off for I read they can actually kill a hummingbird if they sting them. Who knew?
nope, nope, nope. Not me...luckily, I have Bud to do it for me. I get deathly sick if stung...a trip to ER bad.
ReplyDeleteAnnie,
DeleteThank goodness you have Bud. That can be scary if you are allergic. Be careful.
LOL! You're a kinder woman than I, wasps freak me out.
ReplyDeleteEileen,
DeleteNot sure if I haven't been trapped in my house for so long I would have been so compassionate. Well maybe.
I love how you rescued this wasp. Your compassionate persistence saved him/her. From one bug-rescuer to another, thank you for your persistence.
ReplyDeleterobin
DeleteI knew you would get my having to rescue him. If it is at all possible, I will do it.
That was such a nice thing to do for the wasp. I have faith you will continue to deal well with this strange situation we are in the midst of.
ReplyDeleteInger,
DeleteThanks, I just couldn't see it suffer. Maybe some one will rescue us from this pandemic. Ya think??
I can sympathize with both the wasp and you! I feel trapped nearly everyday. Even going to a doctor is a treat!!
ReplyDeleteJudy,
DeleteSo good to see you here. Thanks for stopping by and isn't it the truth about Dr. appointments and grocery shopping. Whee.
You're a brave and compassionate person to identify with the wasp ... and yet, it's so true!
ReplyDeleteTom,
DeleteThank you. I could understand his angst.
Interesting analogy. I guess I have not felt that trapped by the pandemic. I do feel trapped in my recovering body, though, I must admit. I just want to move freely and do simple things like go for a walk. Only time will set me free.
ReplyDeleteLinda,
DeleteI know for an active person like yourself, this has to be difficult being patient while you heal. You will get there and soon I hope.
You were being tested, and you passed with flying colors!
ReplyDeletejoeh,
DeleteThank you. Good to see you here Joe and I hope this is maybe a sign that you may start blogging again soon. You have been missed.
You might want to get the glass freed up so it slides easily in case this happens again.
ReplyDeleteRiver,
DeleteThat is a good idea and now I have the time to work on it. Thanks.
Hi There, I keep wanting to write you and tell you how much I LOVED your post about the big truck pulling into your yard --so that the man could put on a SHOW for you... I laughed and laughed.... Hilarious...
ReplyDeleteYou were nice to that wasp... I'm not that nice I guess because I would have just sprayed him and killed him... BAD ME!!!!!!!
YES---we have felt so very trapped since Covid began. George and I have always loved jumping in the car and just hitting the road... Luckily, we've gotten to take a few trips (and they have worked fine when it comes to Covid and the restrictions)... BUT--we miss our big gatherings with friends and family... Life has changed for sure!!!!
Have a great week.
Hugs,
Betsy
Betsy,
DeleteThanks, so glad you enjoyed the show.
I know how you and George enjoy visiting the pretty parts of our country. You still get it in but not with the freedom you once had. Hopefully sooner than later we will all be turned safely free.
Sometimes I feel that 'trapped' thing too... but know it will end at some point (the light at the end of the tunnel will come, won't it?). Other times, I'm fine with it. After all, I may be sheltering at home these last few months, but I have both DH and my grandson while some are really all alone. As for the wasp, I wouldn't want anything to suffer. You did well.
ReplyDeleteRian,
DeleteI so understand. Most of the time I am fine with these restrictions for I understand the need. Just sometimes, it gets to me.
Had to do my part freeing that poor wasp.
Golly, that is exactly what I would have done. I can’t bear to harm any creature, I even shoo flies out by opening the window and waving bits of tissue at them. It’s the kindest thing to do for any living thing to free it from a trap.
ReplyDeleteFriko,
DeleteI know exactly how you feel. I can't stand to see anything suffer.
Did you get the screen flat again?
ReplyDeleteGlad he got out.
Mage,
DeleteI got lucky. As soon as I removed the prop, everything snapped back in place like I had never pried it.
Compassion! Would that there was more of that from our federal government leaders. Perhaps that gross absence causes some of us to become even more sensitive ... even to wasps.
ReplyDeleteJoared,
DeleteKnow what you mean about our politicians. At least a wasp is a beneficial insect, can't say the same for some of our leaders.
Yesterday I scooped a bee out of a swimming pool. It's the little things, you know.
ReplyDeleteLinda,
DeleteGood job. Since what is happening to our bee population with pesticides, we need every pollinator we can get.
I also have felt the pressure from Covid and politics trying to push my normally positive attitude down. I try to let it go but it clings to me. Maybe I need to go save an insect to get my perspective back. We have to take our happiness and salvation where we find it.
ReplyDeleteBarbara,
DeleteSometimes it is hard to keep a positive attitude and if we find something that helps, grab it.
Hi Patti,
ReplyDeleteWe have had it so easy in New Zealand compared with what you are going through, your isolation has been 6 months compared to the 6 weeks most of us had when Covid first came here. We experienced some of the fear in the first week or so of lock down, when no one had any idea if Covid would sweep through NZ and overwhelm us, and that fear was very real... but we were so very lucky that the lock down came just in time.
Now I will think of you when I see a wasp on a window, and I dare say that I will rescue them too! (I do make a point of rescuing exhausted bees when I find them, and wonderful how they revive when put on dandelion flowers.)
It is wonderful how caring for a little creature, and even one with a sting, can heal us too!
Lots of love to you Patti, big hugs. Thank you for the joy you bring to others even when you are struggling through such hard times yourself. xx