This is the story of the terrifying spider that interrupted my bath time. I sometimes wonder how it really went but to even think of asking my dad his version, would just be embarrassing at best. Someday I will ask but it won’t be today……..
Let’s see~ I will start with a simple thought of a night when I was young and we lived in Buffalo New York. I was told to go upstairs & take a bath. You would think that this was a simple task for a young girl. I remember, going up into the bathroom with every intention to take a bath. I started to fill the tub with really warm water. I left the water running so that it will fill to my comfort. I stepped out of the bathroom, went into my room & as mindless children so I forgot the water was running, while playing with what toys I am sure at the time were my favorites.
Somehow, through my playing I heard the first holler from downstairs reminding me that a bath was needed. Well, I remember going back into the bathroom, & turning off the water observing the bath water was just at the perfect level for me… & there it was…….. A spider… I was frightened at its size… just huge just doing its spider thing…. it was the largest daddy long legs I had ever seen. I was overwhelmed with fear! I was petrified to get into that tub… no way was I doing it…. standing there with a towel wrapped around me I quietly went into my room thinking if I just wait awhile this creature would travel somewhere possibly anywhere other than were I had to take a bath. well I crawled up on the end of my bed & curled up in my towel & the blanket folded neatly at the foot of my bed. As I lay there thinking, ok so when I sneak back into the bathroom this spider would be gone…
Then, as if the sandman had conked me over the head, I drifted off to sleep, thinking when I go back in there that disgusting spider would be all gone… & praying my parents wouldn’t catch me dozing off & I will take my bath & all will be ok… but Oh no~ My Dad came up & oh man I was in for it… “what do you think you are doing?” yikes! I woke up to a start… and his face was so stern & annoyed at my not following a simple instruction, like taking a bath… his reaction was as if, I didn’t like bath time… little did he know that up until that day~ bath time was awesome…. my own little water world… He stared at me as if I was Satan’s spawn. He was really mad! As I sat there thinking why is he so mad? but it will be OK~ I will just explain that there was a spider of gigantic proportion & he will understand, I will be OK… fat chance my explanation infuriated him… I had no recourse, he went & got this short handled brush & was very clear that for being defiant I was getting a spanking~ & as soon as the spanking was over his was clear that I was not only going to take a bath in the cold water but I was going to remove the spider by myself… with a butt completely on fire, I explained that he had to see how big this enormous spider was, and in my mind he would be sorry for giving me a spanking! Oh ya that was the thought in my head… oh lord when he saw the spider not only did he laugh but then he was even more angry. I was so sacred. I was instructed to kill the spider & them take my bath & I’d better be quick about it…
I remember hucking the soap at it & missing and a few other random things, that of course as if that damned spider had a force field around it.. missed completely! Oh but then I had a brilliant idea… I would use a face cloth~ soaked with water. I could fling it like a frisbee & then that would be my chance to wash really quickly & this
whole ordeal would be over… it took a few throws but I finally killed that frickin horifying creature’s butt.
Thinking about it now, I remember the visceral reaction I had to those twitching long legs floating around in the water, it still makes me cringe. I sat at the back of the tub in fear for them touching me… makes me totally nauseous. Hence, to this day I have a huge issue with spiders. Hmmm I wonder why?
This simple little story may sound simple to some but you would think it wouldn’t have left such an impression in my mind. All I wanted was my Dad, my hero to just go into the bathroom & remove the troublesome creature & then life would be serene.
This memory cam to me the other day, when I was with my son Alex. He was preparing to mow a small portion of lawn. He looks at me and says, “Mom don’t move!” I’m like, “WHY?” abruptly, “just don’t move” I look over near the edge of the porch & this massive, nasty fury gigantic tarantula looking thing sit sitting there, like it’s looking right at me,… remember my friend that you killed… I had this sinking feeling in my stomach, like I was going to throw up.. well, here I am…. & boom Alex smashes it…. All is right in the world, lol Thank you Alex!!!
Until next time…
Beauty Smiles 