Things that Go Buzz

From Bee-Phobia to Bee-Love

I used to have a serious vendetta against bees. As a kid, I was like a human piñata for these buzzing little things. Every time I ventured outside, it felt like my arms and legs were just waiting for their moment to shine—thanks to a bee sting. The swelling would begin and let’s just say my panic was Oscar-worthy. I never went full-on shock mode, but I definitely had a flair for the dramatic. Fast forward a few years, and my unease morphed into a full-blown bee panic attack.

Picture this: I’m at dinner with family or my partner, and a honey bee or yellow jacket buzzes by my face. I’d turn pale, freeze like a deer in headlights, and then—WHAM!—I’m up and running fleeing from the world’s tiniest monster. My loved ones knew I was a tad dramatic about these flying insects.

Years later, I have grown to love them, largely due to my stepfather, Bill Hesbach, a master beekeeper who leads the Connecticut Beekeepers Association. This change also required patience and a deeper understanding of the fact that bees are becoming endangered. Bill has dedicated his life to studying the biology and behavior of bees, both independently and through the association. His constant curiosity and deep knowledge about bees have given me the insight to appreciate these harmless and essential creatures.

Now, when a bee unexpectedly enters our apartment, I have the courage to catch and release it back into the wild. I've even gone as far as to rescue yellowjackets, not realizing I could have simply flushed them down the toilet.