By Emily Woodbury
A few days ago I was working on my laptop outside at my backyard picnic table getting this newsletter ready for you. I saw something jumping around out of the corner of my eye. An itsy, bitsy spider was bouncing back and forth from my computer cords to the table. I’ve never seen a jumping spider in person before, but I recognized it immediately from the photos I’ve seen online of the “world’s cutest spiders.”
Like many other women, I was once terrified of spiders. Nope, wouldn’t go near one if you paid me a thousand bucks. One in the bedroom? No way I was about to crawl into bed! One in the living room? No way was I about to stay sitting on the couch! As much as I’ve hated spiders, I’ve never been one to kill them. My grandfather taught me to be kind and gentle to wildlife, including insects: “They’re beneficial!”
I conquered my fear a few years ago when I started befriending and naming spiders. Naming them helped. Now I don’t mind if they’re near me, in my house, at my campsite… I gently capture them and put them outside or in an area away from me and say, “Bye, little guy!” (Fear is all in your head. Get over it!)
Now, while I didn’t want this new little friend of mine—”Hopper”, I called him—jumping on me, I also didn’t mind him being near me. He scurried over right next to my laptop, looked up at me (with his four front eyes), and as the photos I had seen online proved, he was really cute!
He got a little close, so I moved down the picnic table a few feet. He immediately followed. OK… I moved back. Again. And again, he followed. Did he WANT to be near me? Was this guy ACTUALLY friendly? He never tried to jump on me, but he’d get close. He’d prop himself up and just stare at me. I told him to wait there, I had to go grab my camera with my macro lens. He obliged.
He hung out with me for about an hour, and it was me who ended up saying goodbye. It was time to head inside to make dinner. I wished him well and said I’d see him again soon.
That hasn’t happened, but I’ll continue to look for him. I liked Hopper.
I have other backyard friends too, in addition to my seven chickens (eggs, anyone?). There’s Curtis, my frog friend who lives in my garden hose holder, and there’s Beansprout, a tiny wren who roosts in my roof’s overhang. I say goodnight to her every night when I let the dog out for her final potty break.
The world is a better place when you’re kind to creatures smaller than you.
I liked this sign I found online:
I hope I see you again, Hopper, my little spider friend with a little soul.
##RVT1151
Yep, I too like spiders, worms, caterpillars, etc. and often pick up worms & wooly bears on the driveway pavement and toss them back into the grass or garden. Why not? And yes, I’m quite familiar with those little jumping spiders and also think they’re cute. I’ve told my kids for years, “Anything that eats bugs is good!” (And yes, we contribute. A great newsletter, read it every day. Keep up the good work.)
Respect for life, in all forms is a good thing. We need to understand that we are not omnipotent, but, with a tip of the hat to Pink Floyd, “just another brick in the wall.”
“The love for all living creatures is the most noble attribute of man.” ~ Charles Darwin
Love this!
Thank you! This article made me smile and made my day!
Loved your spider story Emily. I’m a woman who has never wanted to hurt other creatures. When I worked in an office — it was the men who called me when there was an intruder in their environment. I think they also knew I would be really upset if they killed an insect — well — except mosquitoes — even I draw the line there.
Thank you, Emily! 🙂 Nice story, thank you! The picture does show a cute spider. 🙂 Nice job with the photography. It is clear neither writing or photography is something you took up earlier in the day that you met Hopper (don’t guess he’s related to Dennis, is he? 😉 Didn’t think so, but figured I may as well ask. 🙂 ). 😉 Thank you again for composing, writing (rewriting too), and sharing this! Safe reavels! 🙂
90% of spiders … um, spied, are female, so Hopper is a good asexual name. An equivalent jump for us would be across a two lane street, or up to the top of your car.
I enjoyed it Emily, you have a kind spirit 🙂
While we’re doing our daily walk after a rain we always spot earthworms that have crawled out onto the road. I always take the time to pick them up and toss them back on the grass. I envision the saved worms years later sitting around the campfire telling their grandkids about the time a mysterious force saved their lives. My wife thinks I’m nuts…not for saving the worms, but the campfire bit.
It seems that only when we are camping do we slow down enough to notice the little things around us. very enjoyable story. 🙂
You are not alone, I put those spidies outside if I can. One rule: not allowed in my bedroom.
One time my brother and I had this huge spider living under my 800# safe in our living room. We called him “Condo”, don’t recall why.
Whenever we would catch a yellow-jacket or Wasp we would put it just out of the bottom of the safe. He would poke out and Poof!…Unpleasant stinging rascal now our pal’s dinner.
Not sure if I can add this, I have zero need -use for mosquitoes. Kill them all!
I need to buy stock in “Off”…It’s getting worster out here.
sorry, spiders do not have souls
When we sit on our patio in the summer there are always one or two of the tiny critters on the table. They jump back and forth from the table to my fingers ( the ONLY spider I would allow to do that). They make me laugh!