The day I saved a spider…My daughter taught me how when she was twelve years old; her heart loved all creatures. There is much to learn from our children.
Lucky for me, the dime-sized trespasser stayed still on the floor, as if paralyzed by my enormous presence, unaware of my heart pounding erratically, ready to jump out of my chest. But I mustered up an ounce of finesse and a pound of courage. I hurried into the kitchen, pulling a tall clear glass from the cabinet, a glass that has its own place on the shelf, and one we don’t drink out of. It holds the label of spider catcher. I placed it over the spider’s body. Then I grabbed a paper plate and cut out the flat base. I slipped that piece under the glass. When I picked up the spider in its glass cage, its speedy steps just about made me fling it across the room! I didn’t want to feel eight tiny legs skitter across my hand. I managed to tamp down those goosebumps, firmly holding the paper. Then again, I never thought the day would come when I felt compassion for a spider, but I did while watching it scurry around the sides, probably fearful. If it only knew I was the good Samaritan. Stepping outside in the yard, I laid the glass on the lawn, pulling away the paper. Out scurried the arachnid – in a cartoon, it would’ve waved to me. The happy spider didn’t waste one minute of freedom. If only humans could be so wise.
Have you lived with arachnophobia? Can you relate to my fear, my pounding heart, and the courage I had to muster up to save that lucky spider? Do you also prefer arachnids to stay outside? Is there a different creepy-crawler that speeds up your heartbeat?
Lauren Scott (c)
Cute spider photo: Google
I can’t look at real spiders on the screen yet,
but I’m working on it. 🙂
Baydreamer ~ Lauren Scott 
I love spiders, probably, because I understand how important they are!
Joanna
Good for you, Joanna! I understand their value, too, but I don’t think I’ll ever use the words “love and spiders” in the same sentence. 🙂 Thanks for commenting!
A ha ha haaaa…. Laughing because I just saw me in very similar situations! Does feel nice though afterwards! 😉🤗❤😘
Haha, you made me laugh, Marina! It’s nice to know I’m not alone, and it does feel good afterwards. 🙂 Hugs 💗🕸🌸😂
I thought it would! 😉 🤣
…and many more back!!!! 🤗🤗
Very nicely written on a spider, Lauren. Thanks. They sure are scary but can leave them in the garden to roam around freely.
Hi Kamal, thank you for your kind words. For some strange reason, I found your comment in my spam folder. I’m so glad I did, but I don’t know why it landed there. 🙂 And I agree with you, in the garden is just fine, but inside is not. 🙂 💞💞
Ya same here at times many bloggers comments are in my spam folder too. WordPress has this problem. You are always welcome dear Lauren.
❤️🌸
😊😊😊❤️❤️
lovely story. think i read it before. i had a roommate who was terrified of spiders and daddy long legs. i think they are cute. Whether I save them or not is a moment by moment thing.
Thanks, Barbara. My story, “Laughing Spiders” is in my book, More than Coffee, and I’ve also shared it here. This scene is in that story, though written a little differently. That’s probably where you remember it from. Cute? It’s all perspective, isn’t it? 🙂 I just like them outside where they belong. Thanks for chiming in. 💞
Spiders are nice, outside, in the garden. Inside, I always am asking them to leave.
My sentiments exactly, Andrew! Outside, they don’t bother me; it’s where they belong. But inside I don’t want to be roommates! 😂
HI Lauren, my dad showed me how to save spiders in the same way. Some I just pick up gently as I know they aren’t poisonous. If I’m not sure, or if they are big and hairy rain spiders, I use the glass or sometimes a bucket [rain spiders are big]. I have always liked spiders. My husband hates them. We had a spider nest [of non-poisonous spiders] in our back yard last year. I was behind a piece of boarding. Anyhow, I kept quiet about the nest and all the babies hatched and floated away on little webs. Of course, a few ended up in the house and my husband was suspicious of the spider invasion. So funny. Anyhow, I caught the babies and put them over the wall into the park.
Hi Robbie, thanks for the smiles. I can totally empathize with your husband. I think he and I are on the same page, while you and my husband play the heroes. If I’m not feeling up to the task of saving, he’ll save both spider and me. I’m not afraid of their bite or danger, even though some are harmful. It’s just their creepiness, probably the legs. They just creep me out! I can’t imagine having a nest in our backyard, but it’s nice what you did for the babies. We had a nonpoisonous tarantula in our house years ago. I wrote about it in my story, “Laughing Spiders” in my book. Anyway, that was enough to almost throw me over the edge! Thank goodness it stayed in one spot so my hubby could just scoop it up and take it outside (far, far away from the house). I’ve heard that Australia has huge harmless spiders. As much as I wanted to visit, I’ll pass now. 🙂
Hi Lauren, South Africa has huge hairy but harmless spiders too. I know Australia has a lot of dangerous creepy-crawlies so I would be wary if I travelled there. We also get snakes and my family don’t like those either. I’m not hugely bothered by the little snakes that come into the house. We do get some poisonous ones so you do have to be careful.
Hi Robbie, the goosebumps started at “huge hairy!” Spiders just creep me out, so it doesn’t matter if they’re harmless or not. I didn’t know Australia had a lot of dangerous creepy-crawlies, so good to know. As to snakes, I don’t like them either, but we don’t have them where we live. On a camping trip, though, in the mountains, I found myself swimming next to a garter snake which wasn’t pleasant, even though those are harmless. When you add the poisonous factor, yikes! I’ll have to modify my travel bucket list now. What a fun conversation! 😂
Haha, Lauren, I’m sorry I’ve hampered you bucket list. I just have to add that I had a pet spider for a season as a young girl. Her name was Miranda and she lived in one of our lamps.
Robbie, I think you’ve drafted a sequel to my “Laughing Spiders” story, and it would be called “Miranda” only it wouldn’t be my story to tell. 😁🕷
You having had a pet spider takes this conversation to a whole new level. 😂😂😂
I can’t believe you were able to rescue the spider. Well done. I always do the same.
If they would just stay outside where they belong, instead of tormenting me inside the house…
😂
John, you are a man after my own heart.
Not the worst to me but yet when the spider is big, I am not at ease.
Well done Lauren for dealing with your fear and save it!
I’ve run across some big spiders, too, Marie, and I feel the same as you. We all have fears, but some are easier to overcome and some are more difficult. I haven’t overcome my fear, but I have faced it head on. It will be a work in progress well into my old and feeble years. 🙂 I also think humor helps. 🙂 Thanks for sharing and for your kind words. 💞
As long as the spider isn’t enormous and trying to drag me away, I’m okay with them.
I understand, Binky. That’s how I’m beginning to feel, too. 🙂
This reminded me of when I put a glass over a spider and just told my Dad to put it out when he got home, I swear its legs touched all the sides of the glass! 🕷 eek
I’m laughing, Charlotte, because I’ve done that too. I’m not afraid of the bite, it’s the speedy legs that get to me. 🙂 I’m glad you understand my fear and sentiments. 🥰
My youngest daughter will think nothing of handling snakes (not for me!), but screams bloody murder at a spider the size of a pin head. 🙂
Too funny, Mark! I’ve never held a snake and don’t think I could. As to the spider the size of a pin head, thanks for the laugh. That’s the funny thing, spiders are so much smaller than we are, and yet, speaking for myself, they can cause a boatload of anxiety! I appreciate you chiming in! 😂
Spiders make me squirm just thinking about them! I always try to put them outside rather than hurt them. Sometimes they move too fast though and then I wonder where they are in the house, which freaks me out!
Ahh, you understand my fear, Christy! And believe me, we have lost spiders in the past, too. One night, I tried to catch a spider in my daughter’s room as she was going to bed. She was around 8 years old. Well, it disappeared and I couldn’t find it. So, we both slept on the living room sofas! My husband just shook his head when he found out. Ironically, she’s the one who taught me how to save them. I can, but if I’m not in the mood and hubby is home, then he gets the job done. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by and chiming in! xo
Awe xxoo
Haha…. first HI dearest Lauren… I am laughing as not two hours ago I did the exact same thing as I captured a spider in the bathroom using the exact same method.. I had a pint pot glass and a Mothers Day card still on display from Sunday here in the UK. lol.. That I used.. and sorry Spider but out into the cold you went…
Like you I overcame the fear of spiders from being petrified as a child of them..
Now I see many in the garden and have been bitten a few times.. Thankfully None venomous but they can cause a nasty bite… even the smaller ones..
So WELL DONE you..
I know how over coming our fear feels…
Here’s to overcoming ALL FEAR… and replacing it with LOVE..
Much love your way dear Lauren.. ❤
Hi Sue, that is too funny! What timing, right? Any glass will do! 🙂 Well, unlike you, I haven’t overcome my fear 100%. I still get the heebie-jeebies at times, and if I’m not in the mood to save one, then hubby will do it for me if he’s home. After 33 years of marriage, he knows me well! But I’ve come a long way, believe me. My family can attest to that. I love what you said though about overcoming all fears and replacing with love. Thanks for popping in and it’s so great to see you! Much love and many hugs to you, dear friend. 💕🌸
haha…. Likewise… I used to be a wreck as a child… Hysterical in fact.. LOL… we have both grown in letting go of our fears. 🙂 ❤
I’m always rescuing wall lizards as they gross out my wife but they and spiders do perform a service for us in controlling pests one doesn’t want to have around the home and they are useful.
It’s nice that you play the hero, Ian. Lizards don’t bother me, but inside the house they might. 🙂 Don’t you have huge spiders where you live? That’s what I’ve heard and those would just about send me over the edge! I do understand their value; they just creep me out. Thanks for popping in and it’s nice to see you back!
Well we do have an assortment of nasty animals and stuff the newspapers report but most of us go through life without any exposure to any of them. It’s quite safe to visit. LOL
That is good to know! 🙂
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Thanks for the shout out, Robbie. I’m glad my spider adventure inspired you to write about that nest in your yard. I’m still thinking, “Yikes!”
I came here from Robbie’s place. I don’t mind spiders, but I don’t want to share my space with them. We do as you do (except we use a paper cup). Outside they are free to do as they wish. Hopefully, they don’t wish to come back in,
Hi Dan,
I laughed when Robbie told me she wrote a poem from my post. I don’t want to be roommates with them, either, so it’s great to hear that you feel the same. Outside they are free, as you said. I’ll even work in the garden now, where as years ago, you wouldn’t find me putting my hands in a spider’s haven. 🙂 Thanks for visiting!
My pleasure.
I decided to rescue a spider from my shower the other day instead of squashing it. Found a cup and “gently” flung it out onto my lawn. I try to rescue them when I can; breaks my heart a little bit to murder them 😦
Good for you, and the shower seems to be one of their favorite places to hang out. I know how you feel about killing them, but it took decades for me to feel that compassion for the eight-legged creepy crawlers. Over time, we grow. 🙂 Thanks so much for visiting.
You were so brave, Lauren, and you have a good heart. That little spider will live another day. I’m not afraid of things like spiders, snakes, and bats, but my husband is a total chicken. He’s even screamed and run away from turtles! Ha ha. I kid you not.
Yes, I was brave, Diana 🙂 A fear is powerful and controlling, so plowing through those block walls takes a mountain of bravery and effort. For me, though, it’s a “one spider at a time” feat. LOL It’s funny that they’re so small (most of them) but can cause so much anxiety. I’m happy you don’t fear them, but I laughed reading about your husband. Although, it’s not funny for him, so I empathize. Cheers to overcoming our fears! 👏🏼❤️😘
My husband has passed down his fears of wildlife to our grandson (though he’s not afraid of turtles). I try to make up for it, but it’s interesting how those primal fears stick. Here’s to “one spider at a time.” 🙂
Well, I hope your grandson can conquer the fear soon. My son took after me when he was younger, but now as an adult, he saves them, too, without blinking. Oh, to feel that secure. I forgot to mention that I’m not afraid of turtles. 🙂 Cheers! Have a good day, my friend!
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