During the first quarter of 2026, I had to contend with an outbreak of rats in my home resulting from a neighbor’s negligence. During the second quarter, I am having to contend with an outbreak of poison ivy and poison oak resulting from my own negligence. I do not need to see a therapist for these attachment issues, though I am scratching my head about my own stupidity.
Pictured above is what a farmland field looked like in October 2024. Though beautiful to look at, this thicket — about seven feet tall — is filled with poison ivy and poison oak. Six weeks ago, this field was completely mowed. I was thrilled that I could get up close and personal to one of my favorite trees because the field was now passable.
This field may have been passable, but it was not even ground. While taking the above photo, I lost my balance and fell flat on my stomach and face. To my credit, I did not let go of my iPhone which captured my Great Downfall.
The fall was scary, but I managed to get back up and continue my morning trek. However, why did I assume that a mowed field kills poison ivy and poison oak? Why did I assume that urushiol (the oily liquid irritant inside of these plants that is so potent that an amount smaller than a grain of salt can cause a reaction) would not be on my clothes? Or hiking shoes? Or hands? And later, my bed clothes? Why did I assume that the best way to take care of myself after a nasty fall would be to take a warm Epsom Salt bath which is, in fact, the worst thing I could have done.
Needless to say, I made too many rash decisions. Since May 16, I have been greeted every morning by a new patch of rashes on my body — intensely itchy, red and blistering — on both arms, both legs, both hands, my face and yes, my butt. I took this photo yesterday morning:
Because I have very sensitive skin (duh), I have prescription cream as well as a kick-ass Benadryl-like prescription. Who knows what I will wake up to tomorrow morning?
Was my fall worth it? After I picked myself up, I turned around to take in the sunrise. Little wonder I completely forgot about the repercussions of my Great Downfall:
15 responses to “Attachment Issues”
It’s a new day. New rashes.😩
Oh yikes. I am so overwhelmed with compassion for you AND the beauty of the sunrise. How can they go together?
I was actually out near that field this morning — not IN the field, but NEAR the field. I saw this huge yellow orb that I hadn’t seen for at least a week.
IT WAS THE SUN!!!!!!😃🙏❣️
Since you have prescriptions, I’m sure your doctor knows what they’re doing, but I highly recommend prednisone. Or maybe there’s a steroid in your prescription cream? I do love the Wtf in the background of your knee photo. Hang in there, sweetie.
The cream contains prednisone, praise Jesus. Also, I was wondering if anyone would comment on that t-shirt.🙏❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Sorry you endured a fall and its nasty consequences. Sending healing wishes for body and soul. The return of the yellow orb should help with at least one of those.
Thanks, Beth.
Seeing that yellow orb clearly brightened my day. 🙏😃
I am currently reading, “One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This” by Omar El Akkad, which is an easy read about a very hard and difficult subject and called “the book for our time.”
Next on my stack is fiction, “Brawler,” short stories by Lauren Groff.
Both of these books were gifts from you. Thanks for keeping me both well-informed and well entertained!
Some of my favorite poetry books have been from you, Beth. Like that yellow orb, they enlighten my soul.🙏❤️
Well, at least the scar looks good. 😬
Thanks, Adrienne. This scar looks so much better than the one on my right knee. 😐
Such a mess! BUT…you continue out there each day! Such courage and determination!
Hopes and prayers for thorough healing and for ongoing courage and determination.
Carol—not certain it’s courage and determination as much as its stubbornness and stupidity. In any case, as always, thank you for your prayers.🙏❤️
This sunrise experience has been quite a contrast in the beauty & the pain of the day. Well all I can say at this point is, when you do something big, you go REALLY big!!
Seriously, I hope this is better than the time you had a case of Shingles – though I know that neither is good in anyway. I hope your recovery from this itchy situation speeds up; I can only imagine how horrible it must feel. Please let me know if I can do anything to help.
Sorry to just be seeing your thoughtful comment just now, Laura.
I FORGOT about the time I had Shingles, and did you know that I am one of those rare human beings who got Shingles AGAIN a couple of years later, though that outbreak wasn’t nearly as bad as the first one. The first round was before the vaccine even existed; the second after, but my GP advised me that I did not have to get the vaccine after the first Shingles outbreak because there was only a 1 to 9 % chance I would get them again. 😩
Here’s more proof of my skin sensitivity: my horticulturist was working in my back gardens yesterday and needed something from my shed. I walked out, unlocked it, then went back into my house. I must have been out for less than 30 seconds. During that time, mosquitoes bit me twice on my right arm and three times on my left. Do I need a body-sized condom when I venture outdoors like Lt. Frank Drebin in one of the “Naked Gun” movies? 😳