spiders.

I have arachnophobia I think. I hate spiders just as much as your average girl. I won't scream if I see one. I will shiver a little and maybe get a little squirmy. Every night I get into bed, search under and over my covers and look all around the walls and ceilings to check for spiders. Usually there are none in sight. Now, what caused this paranoia you may wonder? Many experiences.

Once in high school, I was reading scriptures in bed when I saw a movement in my peripherals. I looked to the pillow next to me and there was a spider intruding on my sleep premises! I quickly turned to my right to grab a tissue. I turned back to the spider, prepared to kill, but it was gone! IT WAS GONE. I tore my sheets apart trying to find it, but alas, it was too clever for me. I slept on my bare bed with a quilt that night. Def not in my covers. Ever since then, pre-bedtime spider checking is a normal routine in my life.

One time in college, when Lizzie was my roommate, I had a dream in the middle of the night (Imagine that!). In that dream, a spider was on his string lowering down from the ceiling, about to make my face his landing post. I woke up and shrieked and jumped out of bed, heading for the light switch. Lizzie woke up and thought I was getting kidnapped. Once the light was on I came to my senses. I told her about my dream and apologized for my outburst. Then we examined my bed, just in case. Lo and behold there was a spider on the side of my bed. For realz. We freaked out. That was the day I learned of my sixth sense.

The following summer, Lizzie and I were in a new house. I had an identical dream, freaked out, ran to the light switch, turned on the light, then realized that I was now in reality. There was no actual spider this time. Just a creepy crawly nightmare. That was the day I learned that I maybe don't actually have a sixth sense. Dern it.

This summer, 5 out of 7 mornings I would get in the shower (clarification: I showered 7 of 7 days) and there would be a spider, just waiting to wash up. Unfortunately for him, he couldn't handle the swift speed of the water streams, or the immense quantity of water spewing out. So, down the drain he would go. Luckily, my dad got some sprayage and there are no more spiders in my shower, or anywhere. I can step into the shower with no more worries of spider guts on my feet.

But, pre-bedtime spider checking is still a nightly ritual. And post spider nightmare checking is a monthly tradition.