The Sad Goodbye

  I have often said that I have more critter friends than human ones and that I prefer it that way.  Critters are not all about drama and turmoil.  They wish to live their lives in peace and go out of their way to do just that.  It is my nature to befriend any critter that wishes to be near me whether they be furry, feathery, scaley or have exoskeletons.  They can be reptiles, amphibians, fish, birds, insects or whatever happens to be their lot in life.  I am good with that.  In fact, this whole tale is about a one of those critters that most folks get the hebejeebies at the mere mention of the name.  A large Black and Yellow Garden Spider made her web in front of the shed door.  Well, I use that shed almost daily but hated to disturb her.  I devised a method of entering without tearing her web.  A long slender board was placed against the shed door and she readily attached her web to it instead of the door.  Each day, I could move the slat to the side and enter the shed without bothering her.  The spider and I became so accustomed to each other's presence that neither were alarmed at any time.  We became friends, if there could be such a thing.

  Today when I went to the shed, I was both elated and saddened.  Attached to the wall with a web of silken threads was a golden orb!  My sweet friend had created the sac, filled it with eggs and secured it to the wall.  It brought great joy to know that next spring hundreds of little spiders would crawl from that orb.  At the same time, it greatly saddened me to know that the beautiful spider's life was about to end.  I put my hand next to her and with one of her long legs, she gently tapped me.  I stood there a long time just being with her.  I think she understood and appreciated that I came to say goodbye.  

  It is funny how life is sometimes.  Things come.  Things go.  Things stay the same.  Life goes on. Growing mentally attached to anything and then letting go can be hard.  I will be the first to admit that I am going to miss my daily visits with the spider but I can only hope that one of her offspring will rebuild a web nearby so I can appreciate her even all the more.  Goodbye, my sweet friend.  I will do my best to protect your egg sac and little ones when they hatch.