A Day in the Life

September 28 - October 4, 2015

Buzzworthy

By Becca Bona

I’ve discovered the secret to running faster: music.

Actually, it probably has to do with patience and endurance and all those other things people who regularly work out like to put on motivational posters. But, truly, I finally ran five miles without stopping under a ten minute pace and I was excited enough afterward to turn it into a column.

Don’t worry, I plan on doing more than simply tooting my own horn here …

This milestone run took place by the beautiful Arkansas river. It was breezy and I had the beats of some heavy electronic dance music to help me out. That’s my new secret that I’m sharing with you, dear readers. It’s all about the EDM. Seriously. I’ve never been to a rave and gotten jiggy to the stuff, but man, does it help me run a faster mile.  

Even as I was cooling down afterwards, I let the beats continue. I was so smug with myself that I was all the way in my car, foot on the gas, with headphones off before I heard it. A strange buzzing.

Buzz. Buzzzzz. BZZZZZZZZZZZ.

I assumed that my headphones were still playing the EDM, and so I turned them off as I put the key in the ignition and shrugged it off.

And yet, there was the noise, still.

I turned toward the backseat and felt my stomach drop. I immediately jumped out and slammed the door. Next thing I knew, I was barrel-rolling down the grassy knoll next to my car until my left knee met asphalt.

The nice weather that had coaxed me out to run had caught the attention of countless others – cyclists, walkers and joggers – who all stared at me now as if I was out of my gourd.

But I am quite sane, usually. And I pointed to the angry, red wasp stunning himself as he rammed into the glass of my back window, trying to escape. They had already all turned away, but I felt justified, because I happen to be allergic to the little pests.

I pulled myself up and began weighing my options. Instinct told me to open all the doors and run fast and far away to safety. Of course, then I wouldn’t ever know if he got out. I eventually decided on only opening the back doors and heading toward the front of the car where I could still see him.

We had a standoff – the wasp held his ground, and I held mine. He wouldn’t budge.

I was muttering to myself ten minutes later when a kind-faced man tapped on my right shoulder.

“You got a rattlesnake in there?”

Although he probably imagined me laughing at this, I did not.

“No, a wasp, and I’m allergic,” I squeaked.

“Oh, not a good place for you to be, then. Do you mind if I try to get him out?”

I almost hugged him I was so excited. Instead, I told him no, that I didn’t mind at all, and in fact would be much obliged if he would do so.

And do so he did.

With one fell swoop of his baseball hat, he smushed the thing. Hat back atop his head he gave me a nice nod and told me to drive safe.

And that dear readers, is why music is everything. Sometimes, it’s best to have it turned completely off so you can hear any potential buzzing that just might save your skin.

Becca Bona is the managing editor of the Daily Record and an award winning columnist and photographer. Contact her at Becca@dailydata.com.