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One night while we were visiting my grandparents in early June for a family reunion I had a very traumatic experience. There were so many visitors that the kids had to sleep on pallets on the floor. That night we had all retired with me on the floor just outside my grandparent’s bedroom. I was just about to doze off when to my horror a creepy crawly creature started walking across my face. I let out a scream that could have raised the dead. My grandmother entered the room, turned on the light and immediately started laughing at me. She quickly plucked the spider, granddaddy long legs, off my face. Still smirking she chided me for being such a baby, as the spider was quite harmless. Never the less, to this day I still have an abnormal fear/fascination of spiders.2
Author notes
photo:
My grandmother, Mattie C. Tolbird
I'm sure that this would not have been nearly so traumatic if my grandmother hadn't made fun of the way I reacted to such a harmless arachnid.
What did you think? Please comment!
Comments
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very good...:f
I can truly relate, my dear Leo. I hate spiders, rats, snakes, bugs...anything creepy crawly... How old were you when this happened? Your grandma's response sounds like something my grandma susie would have said. Aww..brush the thing off..and go back to sleep. Thats easier said than done when you've just had a spider crawl across your face..I'll bet. Thought & memory provoking write, my friend
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VERY REAL
I myself can really relate to this story by this author. Little people (children) often have special fears of creatures of crawling nature. But Grandma was there to save the day.. Good words put on paper....Enjoyed it very much. Writing excellent. -
Adults truly don't have a clue how sensitive children are to their reactions about events such as this one. It's amazing that after all these years, in spite of your age, and all your mind's reasoning, you still have that fear of spiders! (I'm with the rest of your readers, by the way! I hate anything "creepy crawly," and I've never gone through the kind of event you experienced here. I'd have been traumatized for life, at that age!) These little "snippets" that you're giving us of your growing up years are really priceless, Leo! I'm enjoying them so very much! I hope you'll continue!
Paula -
I can honestly relate to this story. I hate spiders, the scare the daylights out of me, lol My fear did not come from something like what happened to you, my fear came from a simple dream I had when I was a little girl (short version, spiders were everywhere) lol, I cant imagine having one crawl on my face lol, I know if that was me I would of said bye to grandma and slept in the car lmao. My dad always joked with me before he died (he dide of cancer 5 years ago) who is going to kill the bugs when Im gone, (a job my husband has now took over) lol. I live right on the shores of Lake Erie so in the summer we get a number of creepy looking spiders all year long, Now I just bribe my kids to kill them lol. Funny snakes dont bother me, but let me see even a tiny spider and Im toast lol. Oh yea by the way I loved your story, short but it packed a very powerful ounch when it came to explaining your fear of spiders.
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I could swear this piece was listed under erotica.....was the spider doing anything kinky to your face, Leo?
(I just looked..nope it was just me. I must have a spider fetish or something! 
)
I guess I have to wonder how your grandma thought you should know it was only a daddy long legs. Some of those guys have VERY long legs...hence the name. It could feel like a friggin' bulimic tarantula for all you know!
When I was 17 or so, I went swimming with my friends in a creek I had never been in before. It went through a HUGE conduit to pass under a road. I didn't think about it twice, I just floated on into the conduit. A few seconds later I felt crawly things falling on me and walking around. I looked up and saw literally MILLIONS of daddy long legs!!! You COULD NOT see the conduit....it was a solid wall of spiders, several layers deep and a few were landing on me each second. I freaked out and dove under the water, swimming under water for as long as I could hold my breath. I made it past the end of the conduit and sprang out of the water as soon as I came up. I NEVER went swimming in that creek again!!!!
yeah...I knew they were daddy long legs but somehow, MILLIONS of them just seem a bit intimidating!
Edited on Jun 29, 10:55 p.m. because ''. -
I feel like I just had a peek into your past. I have to agree with the lady before me, spiders and things that crawl are indeed fascinating to watch, but to have them crawling on me, no thank you!
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I like seeing spiders at work, I think they are amazing creatures. But don't want to have one of those hairy, big ones crawling on my face.
Your grandmother looks lovely on that photo
Mari
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Awww...
Sometimes adults don't realize the effect they have on a child. I am not a big fan of anything that creeps and crawls. I cannot help it. I see a spider and the screams just spew forth automatically and I don't care if I am biger than they are! Thanks for another peek into your life Leo.
♥ Kimberly -
You tell your grandma that actually, the most venomous of all spiders is the daddy long legs. It could kill us if it only had teeth long enough to pierce our skin. (a well-documented if little known fact)
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Oh leo..that would do it to ya...I have a feer of bees flying around my head...I`m not a screemer but I get nervous and swat my hands all around...your memorys are so sweet to read I`m glad you posted them...xoxox
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