The Pepperman and the Rhododendron Honey Quandry

I OPENED A DOOR AND FOUND MYSELF SITTING IN THE MIDST OF CLOUDS. THE ATMOSPHERE WAS QUITE CHILLY. AND THE OXYGEN LEVEL EXTREMELY LOW. HEAVENLY IN A WAY. I WASN'T SURE OF MY DIRECTION. WAS I ASCENDING OR WERE THE CLOUDS DESCENDING? I REMAINED SEATED AND OBSERVED THE SENSATION OF THE PEACEFUL SURROUNDINGS. AS THE CLOUDS MOVED PAST SWIFTLY THE FAINT AMBROSIAL FRAGRANCE OF WILD FLOWERS IN BLOOM FILLED MY SURROUNDINGS. AS THE SUN STARTED PEEKING THROUGH THE CLOUDS, I COULD SEE WHAT APPEARS TO BE, MOUNTAIN TOPS AND PEAKS. I HAD A MAGNIFICENT VIEW OF THE CLOUDS EVER SO GENTLY, WATERING THE VEGETATION. AS THE SUN BEGAN TO WARM THE AIR AND PROVIDE LIGHT. I REALIZED I WAS SITTING ON A LEDGE. AS THE CLOUDS CONTINUED TO DESCEND I FOUND MYSELF IN A VERY PECULIAR SITUATION. IF THE LEDGE I REST UPON SHOULD BREAK FREE. IT MIGHT BE A 3 AND A HALF MAYBE.... 4...THOUSAND FOOT DROP. I WAS PARALYZED, TERRIFIED AND AWE-STRUCK AT THE SAME TIME. WAS I SUPPOSED TO SIT HERE AND MEDITATE OR TAKE IN THIS BEAUTIFUL SCENERY? AS THE WARM RAYS OF THE SUN RELAXED ME I CLOSED MY EYES AND INHALED WHAT I CAN ONLY DESCRIBE AS BLISS. I HAVE NO IDEAL, HOW FAR I MAY BE FROM THE TOP. I FEEL NO REASON TO FIND OUT. SUDDENLY, I HEAR A BUZZING SOUND, AND SEE WHAT APPEARS TO BE A BEE. IT'S HUGE. IT REST ON MY HAND FOR A SECOND. IT'S HALF THE LENGTH OF MY BABY FINGER. HE MAKES HIS WAY TO A BRIGHT RED RHODODENDRON FLOWER, AND DOES WHAT BEE'S DO. I NOTICED THE WALL IS COVERED WITH RHODODENDRON BUSHES. REDS, YELLOWS, PURPLES AND WHITE. TRULY, AN AMAZING FEELING IT IS TO SIT HERE AND SEE AND NOT BE SEEN I HEAR ANOTHER BUZZING SOUND. A LITTLE LOUDER AS IF IN NUMBER. I LOOK TO MY RIGHT AND UP AND SEE WHAT I CAN'T BELIEVE I SEE. HOW IS THAT EVEN POSSIBLE. NOT ONE OR TWO. BUT, AT LEAST 30 BEE HIVES. HANGING THERE. MASSIVE IN SIZE. BIGGER THAN THE SIZE OF MYSELF. MAYBE 6 FEET OR 7 FEET LONG. I'M NOT SURE IF I COULD WRAP MY HEAD AROUND THIS. AS THE BEES CONTINUE TO LEAVE THE HIVES. I COULD SEE A SHADOW GROW IN SIZE AND THE SOUND, IS REACHING DEAFENING LEVELS. SPECTACULAR, THEY ARE NOW EVERYWHERE. THEY ARE INCHES AWAY FROM ONE ANOTHER. IT APPEARS I AM LOOKING OUT THE WINDOW, THROUGH A SHEAR CURTAIN A QUARTER MILE THICK. FASCINATED, BY THE MASSIVE SIZE OF THESE BEE'S. I HAVE TO ASK MYSELF. IF THE WORKER BEE'S ARE THIS LARGE. HOW LARGE IS THE QUEEN? SO HERE I SIT, ON A LEDGE. AT THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF ELEVATION, PONDERING, AS MY MADDENING CURIOSITY IS CREATING AN INSATIABLE DESIRE TO TASTE RHODODENDRON HONEY. Michael E. Harris 01202021