I just had to share this story.

As I've mentioned in a couple other posts I'm a dog groomer for one of the Megalomart style pet chains. When I'm not clipping or bathing dogs I also double as a store associate.

Sunday we had an elderly assistance van pull into our lot which is not unusual. The usual group of folks drop in to pick up cat dog food or whatever else they need for their pets and take off again within an hour. We had a newer gray haired lady easily in her early 80's request five of our largest crickets for "Alfred."

As usual while bagging up the little beasties I ask what Alfred is thinking he must me something like a whites tree frog or a leopard gecko which while unusual with seniors isn't unheard of. Although at just five crickets the number was a little light.

When I asked this lady just about tripped over herself digging her wallet out of her purse to show me a picture of Alfred perched on her shoulder. Right next to what I assume were grandchildren was the photo. Her face in the picture was just beaming with how happy she was. Alfred is a beautiful example of a healthy happy bird eating spider which looked like about the size of a softball. All I could muster is "Wow, Alfred looks great. Bird eating spider right?"

"Yes, but he doesn't eat birds. Just crickets and once a year a mouse. He's a good boy. He's eight years old now and never bit me."

"Well that's a good thing." I handed her the crickets and she squinted looking into the bag I assume to make sure they were all the right size and active enough for Alfred and she left back to go shopping at Michael's. I hope to see her again next Sunday.

It's really cool to meet someone so into their pet. It really made my day. I just didn't have the heart to tell her Alfred was probably a girl.

that is SO cool! i love spiders. i have some pet ones in the kitchen (they're all called wilfred, weirdly, a 'fred' ending too), but i don't have any real pet ones.

i know someone who has pet spiders through rabbit rescue, and once she found or accidentally injured a house spider (lost one of the legs) so she took care of it until the leg grew back (how cool is that?) and she took pictures of the whole process and it. neatest thing i've ever seen.

alfred sounds like a great pet.

Oh man...and it was sitting on her shoulder? :shocked: Did her grandkids look scared to death?

Those things grow to an enormous size...I nearly fainted away seeing one at the zoo. I know I could not have done as well as you mustering up a compliment.

Alfred...LOL

Yeah, usually when I bag up that small number of crickets I figure it's for a spider. A tarantula, though, not a goliath birdeater!

I have spider fear. As a not terribly girly-girl who's had pet snakes and spent much of her life in a horse barn, it's a most inconvenient and embarrassing weakness. No matter where I am, I scream and do an involuntary spider-fear-dance. There have occasionally been witnesses. Like in the grocery store. Okay, there have been lots of witnesses. Just the thought of looking at a picture of a spider gives me the willies. Embarrassing.

Spider vs. Birkenstock: 0-3245

*shudder*

 Quote: Kristel Smart

No matter where I am, I scream and do an involuntary spider-fear-dance.

Video link...please!!

Alas, no video (darn!) . But if it helps, witnesses have described the 'spider-fear dance' as similar in form and function to having some kind of 'episode'.

 Quote: kristel smart

Alas, no video (darn!) . But if it helps, witnesses have described the 'spider-fear dance' as similar in form and function to having some kind of 'episode'.

Think "Ed Grimley Dancing"...hair standing on end, grimacing, holding a shoe instead of a triangle.

I know the steps to the spider-fear dance well.

Where I live the biggest spiders we see are what we call "wood spiders". I think because they make their webs in wood piles. One day my wife and I opened the door to our closet and there was a huge wood spider in the middle of a web he had made about half way into the closet. My wife screamed "Get it!" as she put her hand on the back of my head and tried to push me into its web. That, in my mind, is "spider fear".

The largest spiders in our neck of the woods are the big yellow and black orb weavers, they are really pretty, but not in the house, please. And wolf spiders. Now, wolf spider moms carry their babies around on their backs. A woman I work with has arachanaphobia (sp?) and tells a story on herself about a wolf spider. She had one come into her living room, she did the "fear dance" and swatted the spider with a shoe. Only got in a glancing blow, did not kill the spider, but dislodged about a zillion babies, babies and mom all went scuttling in different directions into hiding in her house. She went out the door and wouldnt' go back in until her husband fogged the house. Now that's serious fear factor.