11 Comments
User's avatar
Cynthia Cook's avatar

Thanks for the lovely story about spiders. It's nice to hear from someone who is kind to creatures that most people abhor.

Here's my spider story:

For a while, every time I played my piano, this spider that was the size of a hand and flush-colored would come out from under my sofa and I swear, it would dance. It was like the Adam's family. When the weather got warmer, I booted it outside by putting a bowl over it, sliding a piece of cardboard underneath, and slowly pushing it out the door. From inside, I watched it walk away. And believe it or not, the next time I played the piano, I missed it.

Expand full comment
Jessica Rath's avatar

How wonderful! The spider probably felt the vibration of the strings, and danced to it! Thanks for sharing this. I think people deprive themselves of SO much interesting beauty because of these stupid prejudices. Often, it's "inherited", we learn it from our parents and never examine it.

Expand full comment
Anna Vinson's avatar

Our NM home was a critter magnet. I did a short video when a tarantula ranged through.

Expand full comment
Jessica Rath's avatar

Lucky you; whenever I saw a tarantula near my house and rushed to get the camera, he was long gone. But critters galore in NM -- yes! Praying mantis, horned toad, lizards, snakes -- wonderful.

Expand full comment
Weston Parker's avatar

Great job, Jessica. In 1982 I lived in a hut in Costa Rica and had a giant purple tarantula who ruled the hut. He kept it free of bugs. He still terrified me.

Expand full comment
Jessica Rath's avatar

I bet this fellow was way bigger than the ones in New Mexico. Good for you, to manage co-habitation despite your fears. I think they look cute and fuzzy 😁

Expand full comment
Weston Parker's avatar

My brother was working on his PhD down the jungle. He told me I was very fortunate to have him in my hut.

Expand full comment
Jessica Rath's avatar

I love it.

Expand full comment
Daniel Appleton's avatar

Spiders & bats are both viewed with loathing, fear, etc., but they have a PURPOSE. I saw a writing spider UP CLOSE once, " writing "& I was entranced.

I also saw bats relatively close around a lamp post & instead of fright or revulsion, I had a front row seat. I'll refrain from any Spiderman or Batman references. 🕷️🕸️🦇 <-- obviously I couldn't.

Expand full comment
Jessica Rath's avatar

I didn't know there were "writing" spiders! Bats are immensely interesting, and pictures of baby bats -- so cute! Loathing and fear are so limiting reactions.

Expand full comment
Daniel Appleton's avatar

They're a unique species. there must be some extra ingredients in their spinerrettes. Some people keep bats as pets, although cleaning up after them is probably a TALL ORDER. Maybe they make bat diapers.....

Expand full comment