Spider Wars
I am not a fan of spiders. We have a treaty—stay on your side of the fence, and I’ll stay on mine. Unfortunately, they’ve broken the terms repeatedly. Still, I’ve been trying to fight this war with dignity, kindly capturing their soldiers and sending them back across enemy lines.
Since moving to the country, however, the soldiers have gotten bolder and more daring. It’s not quite as bad as Okinawa, though, where 12 years ago one brave (and very large) spider decided to itsy-bitsy its way right onto our bed just before sleep. That was a night I will never forget…nor will the spider.
Fast forward to today. A beautiful orb weaver had set up camp near our back door. Yesterday I noticed her, curled up and not looking great. Since she was outside—clearly abiding by the treaty—I let her be but kept my eyes peeled for potential rule-breaking.
This morning, while tending to the chickens, I noticed she had shifted a few inches but still looked rough. My inner diplomat decided it was time for a relocation mission. I grabbed my official spider/insect catch-and-release container—an empty Red Vines tub—and carefully placed it next to her.
She dropped in immediately. Mission accomplished, right? Wrong. Orb weavers, it turns out, don’t like to leave their posts. She was still tethered to her web, and as I moved the tub she nearly slingshotted right back out. Yes, I screeched. LOUDLY. I am not a fan.
Through a series of frantic “white-wash-the-board-up, white-wash-the-board-down” movements, I finally convinced her to let go of her tiny spider-butt lifeline and drop fully into the tub. When I looked inside, I had to admit—she was stunning. Black and white stripes, elegant and striking.
I carried her to the grass near our well, a prime bug location, and released her. Hopefully she’s thriving out there, rebuilding her empire. As for me, the treaty stands—though I’m keeping the Red Vines tub close by.
A year ago today (https://mwilliamsart.com/64days/2024/10/1/september-2-2024), I wrote about my struggle with memory loss from the previous year. Two years later, I still don’t remember anything from that time, and I continue to deal with ongoing memory issues. Words slip away from me regularly—as if they just evaporate from my vocabulary.
Yes, I know aging comes with the occasional lapse, but the difference since everything happened two years ago has been significant. The change was noticeable.
Thankfully, I’ve found something that helps. I take a supplement called Alpha Brain by Onnit. Since starting it, my memory issues have eased and the brain fog has lifted. I would recommend it to anyone who struggles with memory challenges, and especially to those recovering from the aftereffects of septic shock.
I think I’m more self-conscious about my lapses than other people notice, but this small supplement makes a big difference. It helps me cut through the fog—and that boost of clarity makes me feel more confident.
