Fear
sweaty, shaking, heart palpitations, dizziness… I feel like I could pass out. I just saw THIS in my backyard. It looked like the size of a baby rodent. Ok, that’s a slight exaggeration. It was probably 2 inches in length, fat, furry and UGLY.
By the time I grabbed my camera, he was gone. Hidden somewhere in my garden, awaiting to pounce on me and give me a heart attack. It’s poor quailty, but I found this photo on a web site which categorized him as Phidippus audax, a harmless jumping spider. (I can’t believe I’m posting this picture to remember this. I’ll have nightmares!) I’ve seen this spider many times during my childhood, as tiny harmless spiders, crawling on ceilings or the pavement. This one must have been on steroids. Serious ‘roids. He was the size of a baby tarantula. I swear!
Did I mention I hate spiders? Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek!
Diane is the same way. She HATES spiders.
I realize this is a completely irrational fear. After all, I’m bigger than a spider and this particular one isn’t poisonous. However, the creepiness of multiple legs, eyes, fangs and furriness does not endear them to me in any way. Also, there’s just something a little too clever about them and how they escape from you when you try to kill them. Eeeeeeeewwwwww.
Eeek! I__HATE__spiders! (and roaches, and centipedes, and basically anything that is creepy and crawly). Why is it so big? What if it is a new species? Maybe it’s NOT harmless…oh man, I’m not sure if I can visit you in the summer when those things are around.
We do have tarantulas here you know! I’ve never seen a jumping spider THAT big! EW!