Tuesday, May 17, 2011

once bitten


My two day centipede total is at twelve- unfortunately, number eleven was of a rather vicious disposition.
I did my customary inspection of the shower ( always looking closely due to mottled peeling paint on the floor) and waited for the spray to flush any ambushes into sight. Clear. But no sooner did i have suds obscuring my view of my feet when searing pain shot through my left foot. Goodness, how the soap flew. A dousing of clear water revealed my tiny, heartless assailant. I whacked him with the body wash and ended his campaign of violence. An accomplice rushed in, but he too I rapidly subdued (biting my lip and indiscriminately flinging suds). It was a painful and unhappy scene in the shower last night.

Centipede bites are really awful feeling, burning and throbbing unlike any other bite or sting i've had- i'm inclined to feel rather beside myself during those first minutes. My toe was all inflamed and pathetic- despite the ibuprofen i immediately ingested (for pain and swelling). It was really painful for a half hour, then moderate for several hours... after which most the pain subsided and it felt like little more than splinter.

Happily, this bite has less residual pain that the other time i was bitten a couple years ago... that time the site of the bite burned and was sensitive for several days. This time, a single night's sleep has my foot back to normal. Praise the Lord! I am sincerely grateful.

Haha- and thats as close to a happy ending as i can manage :)