Zooming down Hiram’s Hill on Old Highway 84 West Monday morning,I was past the 7.5 mile marker on my bicycle ride. The cool airrushed across my face and I inhaled deeply. This was fun and goodexercise, too.

“Buzzzzzzzzzz!”

A bumble bee, out for a morning nectar hunt, zipped between myglasses and my right eye. Suddenly trapped, the bee responded witha sharp sting to the soft bag region below my right eye.

This was no place to start swatting at a bee so I just grittedmy teeth, gripped the handlebars and rolled on. Thankfully, the beeonly had one sting to offer but it was a big one.

Upon arriving at home, I sought some Benadryl but settled forsome sinus allergy pills with an antihistamine plus an ice pack forthe swelling eye. That’s when I started itching severely from thetop of my head to the bottom of my feet. Welts were forming on myarms, back and legs.

Obviously, this was an allergic reaction to the bee sting. Mylips began swelling and my tongue thickened, making it difficult totalk. My wife, Laurie, called Dr. Ray Montalvo’s office for someadvice. Yes, it would be best if I went directly to the emergencyroom at Kings Daughters Medical Center.

Thankfully, I was well taken care of at KDMC. Nurse SteveCaibell and Dr. Peter Hercules provided the treatment. It was an IVof saline solution plus some pure oxygen to breathe. Laurie held myhand while I lay stretched out on the table for about two hours. Iknow she was praying for me.

Dr. Hercules provided two prescriptions and some sound advice.Keep a bee sting antihistamine syringe handy because if thesituation happens again, it could be worse. My immune systemdoesn’t react well to bee stings.

Last summer I was ambushed by three Cicada Killers or blackwasps on Hurricane Creek. Treatment for that attack required a shotof penicillin and steroids.

Now I understand why cycle racers wear goggles. It’s a goodprotection from dust and grit. Keeps the bees out of your eyes,too.

Professor Hoopla, B.S., must have had a bug in his eye last weekwhen he predicted the winners of 23 games. He missed 9 of them, arecord low for the season. Here’s a preview of this weekend’sgames, starting with a Thursday night special.

Nebraska at Southern Miss: A record crowd at The Rock watchesthe Cornhuskers flex their muscles in Dixie. Nebraska 24-7.

Brookhaven at Jackson Jim Hill: In a showdown of quarterbacksand felines, the Panthers prevail on Hughes Field. Brookhaven21-14.

Oak Forest at Brookhaven Academy: Yellow Jackets have too muchvenom for the Cougars. Oak Forest 31-20.

Bogue Chitto at St. Aloysius: Bobcats invade Vicksburg andescape with a victory. Bogue Chitto 16-10.

Salem at Enterprise: Homecoming brings out the best in theYellow Jackets. Enterprise 29-12.

Bassfield at Loyd Star: In a battle of unbeaten Class 2A teams,the Hornets prevail by a slim margin. Loyd Star 27-24.

West Lincoln at Mount Olive: Pirates take no prisoners on theirhome turf. Mt. Olive 36-6.

Terry at Wesson: This Class 4A homecoming foe is a little toolarge for the Cobras to handle. Terry 21-10.

Lawrence County at South Pike: The Cougars upset McComb butthey’ll find lots of trouble in Magnolia. South Pike 27-12.

North Pike at Franklin County: A key Region 7-3A battle inMeadville finds the Bulldogs winning by a whisker. Franklin County17-16.

Other area games should see Hazlehurst knocking off Amite County29-12, Central Private crushing Copiah Academy 42-8, McComb maulingWingfield 56-6 and Raleigh ripping Crystal Springs 37-0. Parklanehas an open date.

Saturday’s scene should go like this.

Co-Lin at Jones County: Bobcats are bent on winning the firstgame in their new stadium Saturday night. Jones 27-14.

Southwest at Northeast: Bears make a rewarding bus ride toBooneville. Southwest 21-7.

Texas Tech at Ole Miss: It’s a track meet in Oxford. Ole Miss42-31.

LSU at Mississippi State: It’s a massacre in Starkville. LSU49-17.

Jackson State at Valley State: Tigers provide a SWAC display ofdefense and offense in Itta Bena. Jackson State 38-18.

Other Magnolia State action: Mississippi College should kick SulRoss State 17-14, Delta State should stop West Alabama 27-10,Lambuth should wax Belhaven 32-7 and Stephen F. Austin should rideover Alcorn State 28-8. Millsaps has an open date to get ready forMaryville.