Perhaps my dislike of spiders started when I was a wee lad because my mom’s hysteria over the tiniest of spiders was quite catching. I can still hear the octaves through thirty-plus years. Too bad You Tube wasn’t around there – the family could have made a lot of money. I digress.
Those with whom I’ve shared long-term relationships know that I have occassional incidents of talking in my sleep, or sometimes sitting up in bed and pointing at the ceiling or a far wall. I’ve been known to wander and turn on and off lights. When I was in elementary school, my parents would catch me as I ran down the hall towards the front door, screaming that I had to save my best friend – I never remembered any of those episodes. One last thing, before I get back tgo spiders, is that camping as a child was not fun for everyone around me. It seems that I had a penchant to turn myself around in my sleeping bag and punch and scream, trying to get out. As far as was concerned, I slept like a rock since I don’t remember any of those episodes, either. Spider dreams I do remember though. Even now, I’ll wake up, or think I’ve woken up to find gossamer strands around the room and a spider climbing through webs. I’ve gone so far as to turn on a light, sure that the spider and webs would be there, but there has never been anything there.
Scott was working on a computer in the garage and a black widow crawled out from the computer fan, fangs extended. He screamed (“eek!”) and killed it. I don’t like spiders, but I won’t kill them on purpose or unless they’re already injured. I usually take them outside: cup and envelope or piece of paper works really well. By now I’m up to scores and scores saved, I’m sure. (There’s an opportunity to bash Mormons and their practice of posthumous baptisms in there, somewhere.)
Near the front porch, tucked down near the base of the flowering sweet peas, is a black widow spider that made a network of webs. The last week or so, when I take Midas out to do his business, I can see her sitting in the middle of her web. Scott’s gone so far as to throw mosquitos and moths into the webbing and watch her bite then wrap her dinner. I’ve watched Scott, but haven’t watched the gargantuan spider. She’s stayed in her area, eating bugs and nasty mosquitos – she’s outside, I’m inside.
Today I was outside, working on low-flow sprinklers with Scott. The weather was gorgeous. I’ve been offline (away from computers) for several days and the meditative aspect of yardwork and planting and weeding has been calming and clearing. While working on the sprinkler near the flowering sweet peas, the black widow spider made an appearance, landing within a few inches of Scott’s hand. Another “eek!” I went inside and got a cup and envelope. My first attempt failed. Scott caught her for me. I took her out back in the far corner. Maybe she’s in shock and maybe I’m a sentimental bastard, but she hadn’t moved for a good 30 minutes after I put her on the fence. I hope she survived the move, and I hope she keeps spinning those webs.
June 7, 2009 at 9:14 pm
Is that the same black widow we saw while there? I can’t believe you let her stay there! I agree with you about not killing them though. We also have had eerily similar childhood traumas it seems. I had a reoccuring nightmare involving black widows and I also wrapped myself up in my sleeping bag and then panicked until my mom freed me. I do, however, remember these episodes. I guess you are better at blocking out stuff than I am!
June 7, 2009 at 9:58 pm
That is close to how I am with snakes. Ducky on the other hand is worse than you about spiders. If I’m not around when discovered, I will come home to find a black splat (and possibly a shoe print) on the ceiling. Usually though I an home to remove the spider to the out of doors. Poisonous ones though I draw the line at.
errr, humm, what does this have to do with the psychology of running?
June 8, 2009 at 5:40 am
After spending all of his childhood in a house full of women, my son screams like a little girl at the sight of the eight-legged critters.
How do I undo this trauma, oh wise running man?
June 9, 2009 at 8:21 am
Eek! I’m the spider remover at my house, too. Guy roomie will scream like a little girl and climb to the highest part of the couch to get away. Girlfriend just waits for me to pluck the spider up by its legs and take it outside.
June 9, 2009 at 11:14 am
My older son is afraid of spiders so, is inclined to kill them. I usually dissuade him and remove the spider myself to a place where the spider may more effectively catch food.
Slightly off topic. We had a friend over yesterday who, for some reason, was killing all the flies that flew near her. I told her to stop because she was eliminating the household spiders food supply. Then last night my younger son started talking in his sleep: “NO! Donna! don’t kill the flies…the spiders need food too!
June 9, 2009 at 2:38 pm
I’ve both massacred and saved spiders. It depends on what the circumstance is…
Past downstairs apartment with more spiders than one could stand. Massacre.
Current house with a terrarium box in the fireplace. Save.
June 9, 2009 at 9:29 pm
It depends on where they are. If they are in the kitchen or living room I will take them out. If they are in a naked place or sleeping place they are toast.
I am fine with snakes, but spiders I hate. and republicans.
June 10, 2009 at 3:08 pm
Is that the same creepy black widow that was next to the steps when Maya and I were there?! The same spider that would scurry up between the exterior wall and the exterior side of the interior wall on the inside of the room where we were staying? Is it the same one?! If it is, you’re a saint, my friend. That spider’s damned lucky. I wanted to kill it, but all I kept hearing was the mantra from my mother: When you’re a guest in someone’s home, you leave things where you found them.
On the other hand, my mother HATES spiders. I shoulda tromped the darned thing. Yuck!
June 10, 2009 at 6:06 pm
Tewkes speaks the truth! She was all worried about that spider getting into our room and I kept telling her it wouldn’t and it should not be killed… Karma and all that…
June 10, 2009 at 6:13 pm
Update: the same spider creepy-crawled all the way from the backyard to the front OR there were two spiders in the same area. Either way – I almost stepped on the second spider last night. The sound was not a little “eek,” but a manly yelp.
June 12, 2009 at 6:19 am
I can hear it now….
“Gah!”
June 14, 2009 at 7:01 am
[...] noted: Becky took some beautiful photos of an old pioneer cemetery. Sideon saves spiders. And Andrew asks the believers about the same passage we discussed here last week! Their answers [...]