I called the cops last Saturday morning, and no, it’s not because of the neighbor that we’re having issues with. The reason may sound silly, but I’m allowed to do so, because I’m a woman π.
There was a wasp in our laundry room upstairs. When I went to throw the washed clothes into the dryer, I heard and saw the wasp flying around the lamp on the ceiling. Without finishing putting the washed clothes into the dryer, I quickly left the laundry room and closed the door behind me.
I texted my husband and asked him to come home from work to try and remove the wasp without having to kill it. My husband texted back to say that he’s in the middle of mixing chemicals and will leave in around 30-45 minutes time.
I then called mom and told her that there’s a wasp in our laundry room upstairs, and now what should I do? π Mom suggested that I leave the laundry door closed until the wasp naturally dies. I started doing an online search while talking with mom and saw that a wasp can survive indoors from 2 days to a few weeks, depending on how much air, food, and water supply there is. Well, I got a bunch of wet clothes waiting to be dried. I told my mom that the wasp could live there for weeks, and we need fresh clothes!
I then told mom that I’ve asked my husband to come home and try to take the wasp outdoors without having to kill it. But as we got talking more, I started to realize that this could be dangerous for my husband as wasps can attack fiercely. Also, the fact that there’s a wasp flying in our upstairs laundry room may indicate that there’s an unsealed opening somewhere for it to come through (We always keep our windows and doors closed due to my allergies). What if other wasps start attacking my husband while he’s trying to carefully capture this one?
I told mom that I will call the cops and see if they can come over and remove the wasp instead. I read on the news a few months ago of firefighters helping a family rescue their cat that went through a hole in their wall and was hiding somewhere in between the walls. I decided to try my luck and see if they’ll send an officer or a firefighter over to help me remove the wasp as well.
I told mom about my plan and we ended the call so that I can call for help. Obviously, I’m not going to call 911 and occupy their phone lines for a non-emergency issue, so I found a non-emergency number to call for our local police station. A dispatcher lady picked up my call and was hesitant in taking down my information. However, she finally kindly took down my info and said that an officer will call me back. An officer called me back a few minutes later and told me that they don’t handle this type of issue and that I’ll have to call an exterminator, or take care of it myself. I asked the officer if he had any suggestions as to how I can remove the wasp inside my home? He said that if it was him, he would just swat it with a newspaper. I thanked the officer and we ended the call.
I then texted my owner to let him know about the situation and asked if I could call an exterminator to come and take care of the wasp, and see if there’s an unsealed opening somewhere? The owner did not respond (he finally did in the afternoon and told us to go ahead if this happens again), so while I was waiting for my husband to come home and for the owner to respond back to my text, I did more online searches and called an exterminator company for a free quote. I asked the customer service representative how much it would cost to send an exterminator over to remove the wasp and check for any unsealed openings?
The customer service representative was kind enough to tell me that it would not be worth my money for them to come over just to remove one wasp. π€ͺ He also said that one wasp in our laundry room does not mean that there may be an unsealed opening inside the house. That wasp could have just flew in through our front door and made its way up to our laundry room. He also said that they’ve been getting calls for the past week of wasps everywhere due to the heat and dry conditions that we’re experiencing right now in Minnesota. He said that if this happens again, or if we’re outside our house and notice a wasp nest, then we should call back to get an exterminator to come and have a look. I asked him if he had any suggestions as to how I can remove this wasp in our laundry room. He said the same thing that the officer said, to swat it with a newspaper, or spray it with some insecticide. I started thinking in my mind that I would like to use an insecticide as a last resort, because the smell will last for a long time and I don’t want to end up poisoning ourselves.
While I was talking to the exterminator, my husband texted me to say that he’s on his way home. I started thinking more and felt that it was too great a risk to ask my husband to try and remove the wasp without killing it. I don’t want to kill life, and that even goes for insects. Exceptions may be mosquitoes and cockroaches sometimes though…. Even with insects, if there’s some way I can get it out of the house without having to kill it, then that’s the route I’ll go with. But, my husband’s life (or any human’s life, for that matter) is much more important. What if the wasp goes crazy and starts attacking him viciously, while he tries his best not to harm it (especially because I asked him not to)? What if he gets stung all over and needs to go to the ER, or even worse, ends up with an anaphylactic shock right there and then? You never know about these things. There have been kids who became severely allergic to bee stings and ended up with an anaphylactic shock and died. Just like in the movie “My Girl”, Macaulay Culkin died of multiple bee stings. OK, I’m aware that we’re talking about just one wasp here, but still, you can never be too careful about these things, right?
I decided that my husband’s life is more important than the wasp’s. I will pray for the wasp and ask my husband to make sure that it’s completely dead, so that it doesn’t suffer a slow painful death. I called my husband and told him that I think it’s too risky for him to try and capture the wasp, and it’s better to just kill it instead. I asked him if he wanted to go and buy a fly swatter before coming home. He said that it’s not necessary.
My husband arrived a few minutes later with a red plastic drinking cup. I was shocked! π² Like, seriously? This was his only weapon against the wasp???? I asked him if he wanted a larger container but he said no. So we went upstairs and he opened the laundry room door then closed it behind him. I felt scared for him when he closed the door behind him. I was imagining the worst scenarios possible. What if the wasp is flying around angrily and ready to attack him fiercely? He was silent after he closed the laundry room door, which I guessed was a good thing. Then he shouted “I don’t see it!”. I told him that the wasp was flying above the ceiling light when I shut the laundry room door, but he kept on saying that he doesn’t see the wasp. In the past, I would have had no choice but to believe him. However, throughout the years, I’ve slowly learned to trust myself and to become more assertive. I told him again that the wasp must be there as I saw it flying around the ceiling light as I was closing the door to the laundry room (unless there truly is an unsealed opening somewhere). I heard some thumping sounds, then he shouted for me to get a piece of paper. That seemed to mean that he has managed to trap the wasp inside his red drinking cup so I quickly opened the laundry room door and he told me once again to get a piece of paper. I quickly rushed downstairs and found a thick paper folder and brought it back to him.
So, yay! My husband managed to capture the wasp without having to kill it or getting himself hurt! I was really proud of him as I was already emotionally prepared for him to kill the wasp. I told him that he has accumulated 100 “Good Karma Points” and I’m really appreciative for what he did! It truly was very brave of him! π. He took the wasp inside the plastic cup with the folder covering the cup’s opening, and went back to work. I reminded him to be careful when releasing the wasp so as not to get stung by it.
I called mom after my husband left to let her know that my husband has removed the wasp so that mom won’t worry about us and can go to sleep. Just like my ex, my mom also enjoys listening to me talk. I went into details about the entire encounter, and I also told her my own opinion as to what the wasp may have been thinking. I told mom that a fly also flew inside a few days ago and that I was patient enough to wait 2 days before I was able to also capture it inside a cup, and then release it outdoors. I told my mom what the fly must have been thinking, and how these insects are communicating with each other about which homes to go to, and the fact that it’s so hot now, so they’re just lurking around, waiting for a chance to fly inside and enjoy our air-conditioned house, with free food and free water.
Mom was so sweet. π After hearing what I had to say, she told me that I should write children’s books, starting from how I first called the cops, then called the exterminator, and then my husband caught the wasp, and how the insects are talking with each other, etc. etc. It’s true, I have a very active imagination, and I can often sense what animals (and people) are saying or thinking. I was so happy to hear mom say that because she always sees the best in me, even with little silly things that I say or do. π
My mom is my best cheerleader, and my best friend. She always has a lot of faith and belief in what I think or do. Whatever self-worth I have learned growing up, I learned it because of my mom. My mom always makes me feel like I can accomplish anything I want in life. Sometimes, to the extent where I think that my mom is being a little unrealistic, but I still appreciate her completely. I love my mom so much, not just for being such a kind, and caring person, but for seeing the best in me, especially when I can’t see it myself. Thank you mom!
Oh, and thank you hubby, for being willing to risk your safety to try and capture the wasp instead of killing it! You definitely accumulated 100 or more “Good Karma Points” for doing that! π
That’s What Friends Are For
And I never thought I’d feel this way
And as far as I’m concerned
I’m glad I got the chance to say
That I do believe, I love you
And if I should ever go away
Well, then close your eyes and try
To feel the way we do today
And then if you can remember
Keep smiling, keep shining
Knowing you can always count on me, for sure
That’s what friends are for
For good times and bad times
I’ll be on your side forever more
That’s what friends are for
Well, you came in loving me
And now there’s so much more I see
And so by the way
I thank you
Oh and then for the times when we’re apart
Well, then close your eyes and know
The words are coming from my heart
And then if you can remember
Keep smiling and keep shining
Knowing you can always count on me, for sure
That’s what friends are for
In good times and bad times
I’ll be on your side forever more
That’s what friends are for
Keep smiling, keep shining
Knowing you can always count on me, for sure
That’s what friends are for
For good times and bad times
I’ll be on your side forever more
That’s what friends are for
Keep smiling, keep shining
Knowing you can always count on me, for sure
Cause I tell you, that’s what friends are for
Whoa, good times and the bad times
I’ll be on your side forever more
That’s what friends are for