I've always been fascinated by bee-keeping, but it seems such an intimidating endeavor. Getting stung a couple of dozen times at once must suck. My cousin started last year. I'll have to send this to her. Did you have a food source nearby, or did they have to travel far? (Btw, it was worth correcting that line break issue.)
My first beekeeper friend was in his 70's - he would sting himself every day, and claimed it kept his arthritis at bay. He'd catch one, and slowly smash it against his arm until it stung. It is surprisingly hard to get a bee to sting you, unless you are near the hive.
Despite an unpleasant start he persevered, voluntarily getting stung once a month to build up a tolerance and keeping a syringe of antidote in the fridge in case something terrible happened. All throughout my youth we kept a few hives.