It was the summer of 2003. I was just a young lad camping with a couple of friends before I shipped off for basic training. The next morning, I suddenly awoke to my stomach hinting at me that it was time to take a dump. Then the nightmare began. We used the toilet paper to get the fire started the night before. I contemplated on using my only pair of socks or to use the leaves that were around my ankle… I chose the leaves. This was a very big mistake. I was fine the rest of the day since it takes poison ivy a couple days to really kick in. The next morning, I awoke to ship off to basic training, and I found an awful surprise. My rear end was itching uncontrollably. When I got to the bathroom and looked in the mirror, I knew I was in trouble.

The good news is that when you first get to basic, you don’t have to do much physical training since you are busy going through medical screenings, and clothing issue. This lasted about a week, but my first actual day of basic was one I will never forget. The poison ivy has not only spread all over my butt, but on my crotch as well. My crotch felt like a rough leather jacket with mosquito size bumps and zit size blisters all over it.

I recently encountered poison ivy in my back yard, and it has spread all over my arms, legs, chest, and a little on my face and eye. Just last night, I found an itchy patch on my crotch again.