I admit it. I don't go out to my mailbox as often as I used too. Now adays, my personal mailbox gets checked only about twice a week. My PO Box gets check a few times a week, but for the most part, I get junk mail via USPS.

Last week when I opened up my own mailbox out in the country and BANG. That dirty rotten yellow jacket came out to welcome me. It bit me and I started cursing at it....because that is what retired sailors do to make things better.

A shot of foaming spray from far away (say hello to my little friend), and I was back in business. So that inspired me to look up hacks in preventing this happening again,

I learned that Yellow Jackets hate the smell of fabric softener sheets. Now I am not sure how they determined that, but now i keep a bounce sheet in the back of the mailbox. I am not sure if it left overs from the spray or the sheet - but the yellow jackets cousins haven't said hi to me yet.

Around here, out in the sticks, I see a lot of people planting flowers and such around the mailboxes.

To me that is asking for trouble.

I have heard of the dryer sheet hack.

I will ask my son-in-law about it as he delivers (junk) mail for a living.

Hope the pain subsided quickly.

I remember, years ago, when my wife reached in the mailbox to get the mail, and a gecko ran up her arm. I heard the scream from inside, and came out to see mail scattered everywhere and my wife out of breath and searching herself thoroughly to make sure she got it.

He didn't mean any harm.