It started over a year ago. Dan, Deb, Cullen, Shawn, the kids and I were at some "thing" in Farmington where all these vendors came out. The zoo was there and there was a guy holding a tarantula and invited me to pet it. AND I DID. It was soft and silky and I was so proud of myself.
It planted a seed.
Fast forward to a few months ago when my darlingest husband, who knows I have a deep need to have things to love, told me that I can have a pet now. We're ready. The kids are old enough. He didn't want a little wussy dog (as he calls the little ones), and I agreed- I don't want a dog period. I'm pretty sick and tired of cleaning up poop after people other than myself. Not that I go around pooping wherever I want, but you know. I will not miss wiping butts, changing diapers, etc. NO DOG. I wished for a cat, but Cullen won't budge. He did let me once, and I got a couple of ultra naughty barn kitties that I gave away a few days later because they were so incredibly naughty that Cullen would have killed them. No cats. Rabbit? Cullen suggested it, but NO, again, cages to clean, something to feed and water and I just don't want to. Then it occured to me that a spidey wouldn't be hard to take care of.
Did I tell you that I hate spiders?
I used to, anyways.
They creep me out. I don't know why anything needs that many legs or needs to move that fast. Fricken GROSS. I mean, seriously. So what, they eat mosquitos...I still get bit my mosquitos so they aren't eating THAT many.
In fact, it was just a few weeks ago, up at the cabin when I was in the camper and Cullen says to me "DON'T MOVE!" I thought I had a tick on me, so I froze obiediently. He was pulling on the back of my sweatshirt. I was kinda thinking he'd get whatever the hell it was off of me so I could carry on, but instead, he says again "WOW. Don't move!" I didn't want to look but I was starting to feel that icky, icky feeling of having something icky, icky on me. "WHAT IS IT!?" I demanded. "A HUGE SPIDER!" he says. THEN- get this- THEN he turns around and yells to my dad "Hey, Boss! You gotta see this! Come here!" Which sent me directly into GIRL MODE and I started yelling "GET!!!! IT!!!! OFF!!!!! OF!!!! ME!!!!" at the top of my lungs.
He eventually did- and I rethought my brilliant idea of having a tarantula for a pet. That was the very same weekend that I accidentally stumbled upon a garter snake and ran away like a girl mumbling "Can't get a spider. Can't get a spider."
But I got over those things.
My niece Kalene and I went and held a tarantula. It didn't feel like I was holding an enormous spider, but it was slow moving and...kinda...pretty? I knew then i was going to own one.
And now, I do.
I don't know if it's a boy or a girl, but her name is Willow and I am in love, big time. It's ridiculous how much I like this thing. I'm totally projecting onto it, I'm sure. I am going to hold her. She even ate crickets for me like a good girl yesterday, so she isn't too nervous about her new home. Watching her eat was totally fascinating too. Watching the crickets liquify and seeing her goggle them up...WOW!!! Today she was cleaning herself and that was cool too. I can't wait til she molts. Sick! I'm telling you, it's SICK. I really, really love her.
You know what the coolest thing in the universe is? How can I ever be afraid of anything ever again when I have a tarantula? The very next time I feel nervous or scared about anything, I will go hold my baby and know that I can do anything- that I want. I should clarify. I can probably climb Mt. Everest, but I just don't want to that.
I have a special baby! And they are so low maintaince it's silly. To know that she's happy if we never hold her, and doesn't care if we do. I LOVE HER.
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