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Yesterday I was out walking, intending to do an important errand in the afternoon. Unfortunately, since today is a holiday in Sweden that means many local government institutions use that as an excuse to leave early for the day (a totally criminal type of behavior in my own opinion, they're supposed to serve US, not the other way around!), and thus I couldn't get my errand done. That always happens around holidays, they only work half the day the day before a holiday and get paid for a full...
I wasn't that angry though, I can manage til monday without getting it done, and the weather was really nice after all, if windy. Sun, and rather warm. Soccer boys out playing, and nice music in my minidisc player. I walked around a little, took a small detour on my way home. I'd liked to have walked more, but I needed to go to the bathroom soon-ish, so it didn't turn into some super-long walk, maybe 40 minutes in all or so. As I came back towards where I live, I went up a flight of stairs from a bike path to a bridge over the path. There I saw a black and orange bumble bee crawling around on the ground.
Now, I happen to be very fond of bumble bees. They're big and furry, and if you look at their face you see they have really big eyes and actually look quite friendly with that long mouth/tongue they use to lick up nectar. I was stung by a bumble bee once, when I was just a couple years old, it's one of my earliest memories. It was one of those black/yellow/white ones that are even bigger than the black/orange variety, and I remember picking it up in my hand from a flower because I thought it looked so fluffy and pretty, and I guess it must have felt threatened because I got it right on my thumb. I bet I wailed and screamed a lot afterwards, but I never blamed the bee for it (even though I was really small), and I didn't become afraid of them either. It was my own fault, nobody else's. Anyway, I continued to like them, and to this day I still do.
Thus, when I spotted the insect down on the ground I had to stop and see what was going on.
Just about the only time you see bumble bees just crawling around on the ground is when they're sick and/or dying, sometimes I've seen them with tiny little red parasites in their fur or such. This one seemed okay, except it didn't fly. I couldn't let it stay where it was of course, someone might step on it or something since the bridge sits inbetween two student apartement buildings and the local mini market and bus stop and such things, so it's fairly well trafficked. I found a slightly wilted pink rose petal with which I intended to transport the bee, and put it out like a small blanket on the asphalt right in front of it. The bee seemed a bit reluctant, it had seen the movement, and sat still for a moment or two, but then, perhaps since it was a petal, something it would recognize, it continued forwards on its slow journey, up on the thing.
When enough legs were on the petal, I lifted it up and walked briskly towards a nearby newly-planted hedge. The bushes are just saplings so far, barely twigs sprouting out of the ground, but I thought that would have to do. It was rather windy too like I mentioned, and I wanted to reach a relatively safe harbor quickly before the insect fell off due to the bumpy ride it was getting. Well, I reached my destination (it was only 10 meters or so, maybe less), and put down the petal. Of course, it flipped over, leaving the poor bee buried under it! The insect struggled and started to make its way out, but I turned the thing over anyway just to be sure and walked away. Then I stopped and looked back, thinking there was no way she'd be able to find any food there...
You do know all worker bees (including bumble bees and wasps too of course) are female, right? This was a wee little girl, and I felt for her. She'd probably flied out on thousands of mission sorties, gathering nectar and pollen for the young grubs in her nest, and now she was tired. I saw that the only stuff around her was ground-up bark from pine trees around the roots of those young bushes, and a dense wall of grass which would be worse than a jungle for her to get through! Besides, she was already unable to fly, and she'd only get weaker from trying to get through that mess! She still tried though, her six short legs carried her towards that dense green foliage with respectable speed! I quickly went back and picked up the petal anew and made her walk up on it. This time she was feeling frisky, she kept walking even up in the air! Whoah girl, steady! 
I'm not afraid of bumble bees, but I respect them. I didn't want her walking up on my fingers, so I had to juggle the petal a bit to keep her away from me. Fortunately, I quickly reached the rose bush where the petal had originated from and somehow managed to offload my passenger smack dab in the center of a flower! I thought she'd tumble to the ground because I wasn't too elegant in trying to get her to step off, but her legs caught grip just beautifully anyway. I felt so proud of her!
Now, I didn't hang around to see if she stayed in that flower to eat and have a rest, or if she immediately continued onwards in the direction of her...well, not nose obviously since they have none... I guess bumble bees aren't too smart. I hope though, that her eating instincts took over once she ended up having a small meal of some sort in that flower, but I'm not sure. I felt I had done my part, now it was up to her what she wanted to do. I hope she did okay.
I went back home with a smile on my face, not angry anymore I hadn't managed to get my errand done.
-L
"But he that hath the steerage of my course,
direct my sail."
-William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet, Act One, Scene IV
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Hehehe that was super cool dude. I am not too fond of bees cuz I was stung by them so me and all bees try to keep our distancef from each other. It was nice of you to help her though I bet she appreciates it. Good job Lenny *hugs*
Peace and trees
~Andy
Why are you wearing that stupid man suit?
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Guest
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On fire! |
Registered: March 2012
Messages: 2344
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absolutely fantastic story.Tis pretty much the reason you are loved and respected on this board.made my day guy...rob
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smith
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On fire! |
Registered: January 1970
Messages: 1095
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You know how much I loooove your little life stories. You have such an eye for detail and find the greatest tiny things to tell about.
That is a way cool story of 'Lenny & the Bumblebee'. I'm sure she had a nice dinner and flew home to the hive
{{{{hugs}}}}
JJ
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Amazing how some things can pervade your formed opinion of what is important in life and change your outlook?
Bumble bees are such straight forward creatures. They work and never complain or ask for more pay. Pity that ppl couldnt adapt to that? Good on you Lenny...
People have a habit of changing your direction through life
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Guest
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On fire! |
Registered: March 2012
Messages: 2344
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I got a chance to really explore your board and it really blew my socks off--fantastic board--fantastic people!!!!!!!rob
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Garrett
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Toe is in the water |
Registered: January 1970
Messages: 77
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Wow Lenny
You are such a god person. You are so deep, wise, and kind. You are a gift to the world. Thats so beautiful. WOW.
Garrett
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Guest
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On fire! |
Registered: March 2012
Messages: 2344
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what really makes Ashley a good person is that he has been blessed with a priceless gift and that he is willing to and has shared that gift with others.Explore his site-well worth the time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! rob
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Garrett
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Toe is in the water |
Registered: January 1970
Messages: 77
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Whats his site?
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Guest
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On fire! |
Registered: March 2012
Messages: 2344
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at the very top of this page or ask timmy....rob
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Garrett
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Toe is in the water |
Registered: January 1970
Messages: 77
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Oh, no duh, why did I even ask that. Im sorry Im stupid right now.
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Guest
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On fire! |
Registered: March 2012
Messages: 2344
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YOU ARE NOT STUPID AND DONT EVER SAY THAT AGAIN
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I always look forward to Lenny's snap-shot stories. Slices of life that only a few of us have the time or interest or talent to post. It makes me feel like I have spent part of your day with you, friend.
It's sort of a Zen thing. You ever read any Zen teaching stories? They're pretty cool.
"Always forgive your enemies...nothing annoys them quite so much." Oscar Wilde
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Thank you Garrett, I don't know if I am all of those things you say, but I do know you're a kind person. Thank you, I am glad you liked my little story.
Hugs:
-L
"But he that hath the steerage of my course,
direct my sail."
-William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet, Act One, Scene IV
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When I try to tell something, I like it if the discussion is at least fairly centered on the topic itself. If I just post some stupid joke or something it doesn't really matter, but these kind of posts DO matter to me. Thanks.
Anyway...
I am glad you felt that way David. I write them I guess because I want to, and like to share my day with my friends. Often my days aren't very meaningful or special, and then all of a sudden something happens that I feel like telling others about. It always makes me smile when someone listens!
I have read a few Zen teaching stories I guess, I remember just a little from religion class in school (which I found tremendously boring in general), and back then I guess I regarded Zen mosly as a weird curiosity, I didn't really understand it. These days I find it quite fascinating I guess, and I want to know more. A part of me would very much like to live like a buddhist monk, learning the Zen way in order to find calmness and peace of mind on the inside (and some cool martial arts moves too ). Another part of me doubts I'd ever manage to live like that, without all my material belongings without going nuts...
However, I guess maybe I would not need all my electronic gadgets quite as much if I had a person to replace them with.
-L
"But he that hath the steerage of my course,
direct my sail."
-William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet, Act One, Scene IV
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trevor
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Really getting into it |
Registered: November 2002
Messages: 732
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For sharing those wonderous moments with us. Well, the moments weren't what was so special, but your interpretation and expression of them made them so. You have quite the knack for expressing yourself through the written word. Thanks for a little slice of your soul.
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This link is just wonderful... Shows our universe is so beautiful: http://www.msnbc.com/news/338343.asp
Also, when you check out a sub-heading, there will be a small link in the bottom right of the window that says "picture stories". You should have a look there as well.
Hugs for everyone! Please just be nice when you come visit here ok?
-L
"But he that hath the steerage of my course,
direct my sail."
-William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet, Act One, Scene IV
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Thank you for sharing. You really are a wonderful person.
Thanks Lenny,
Love,
Kevin
"Be excellent to each other, and, party on dudes"!
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No Message Body
"But he that hath the steerage of my course,
direct my sail."
-William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet, Act One, Scene IV
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No Message Body
"Be excellent to each other, and, party on dudes"!
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Small, yet maybe important things in life... 
Re: Small, yet maybe important things in life... 
Re: WOW! 
Re: WOW! 
Meanwhile, back to Lenny's Bumblebee Thread... 
