As a dashing and debonair college lad back in the mid-90’s and one whose parents were only too happy to dump off on the sprawling campus of the University of Kentucky I found myself hip deep in the dual responsibilities of growing up while also bagging my degree in Entomology. Which must surely be one of the coolest majors in the world because it specializes in the study of insects and bugs. What could be more exciting than that? I was pumped and the fine professors at the University of Kentucky were exceptional and eager to teach us young rapscallions the discipline and science of the bug world in all of its manifestations.
They taught us much and they taught us well. But the one thing they neglected to teach us was how to catch a loose spider nor how to properly escort it back outside. Almost thirty years after graduating I came to belatedly discover that I would have benefitted from a lecture or two on that very subject because just last night I found a wily spider in the middle of the basement floor who evaded my every attempt to capture him. He was a master strategist as he feinted one direction only to zip in another as I tried, again and again, to shoo him into the first thing I grabbed; a random tupperware container which I’m sure the manufacturers never intended to be used for the purposes of catching a nervous spider. But desperate times call for desperate measures and I was only too happy to sacrifice a cherished tupperware dish for the benevolent purposes of rescuing an arachnid in need.
I don’t know if the spider was running for his life or if he simply thought it was all fun and games but after much sweating and swearing I finally captured the little beast and tossed him out into the night where I’m sure he’s got a whale of a story to share with all his spider pals. So all’s well that ends well. It’s a minor detail but I tossed him towards my neighbors and hope he pays them a visit. I’m sure they would love to have the company.
