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 I’m not all that fond of spiders. So when I got in the hot tub the other night, I was not really pleased to see a spider web built between the two tree branches and the tall planter above the corner of the spa. URGH! That's the corner where I sit because the pressure jets are the best there, sending out the best water jets and bubbles.
I didn't want the spider in my space, but I didn’t want to destroy the web or kill the spider. So I reached up and disconnected the web from the places that it was anchored to the branches and the planter. The web and spider gently floated toward the planter and I was satisfied that it was out of my way. That was that.
The next evening, however, the web was back in the same place, glistening with the light from the patio. The spider was sitting happily in the center. I again disconnected the web’s anchors and watched it all float toward the planter.
The next evening, same scenario. However, I noticed that the web was even more complex, and the spider seemed to have doubled in size.
She is a fascinating spider. She looks more like a crab than a spider, spikey on both sides of a crabshell-shaped body. And she has black and white markings that are very interesting. (Note to myself to research what kind of spider she is.)
I had not yet gotten over my silly fear of this little creature. So I once again disconnected the anchors and watched the web collapse in upon itself and float toward the planter. THIS TIME, there was still enough daylight left. I got out of the spa and sat down on the other side of the planter to play with my puppy, Winston the Corgi.
After a few minutes, I happened to glance up at the tree branches, and I’ll be darned but the spider had rebuilt the whole web in the few minutes I’d been playing with the dog. How in the world had that little ¼ “-wide creature gotten a filament of web the four feet between the tree branch and the planter? Did she jump? I left the web alone, quite impressed with the spider’s industry.
The next morning, I woke up with very sore legs and was slipping down into my “poor me…I have a bad hip injury” mood. I thought that I would get in the spa, then go back to bed instead of going to the office. Yes, I had a ton of work to do, but to heck with it! Today I hurt too bad.
As I got into the spa there was the spider web, even larger and more complex. The spider was sitting in the middle, seemingly bigger in size, with several bundles of web where bugs had gotten caught and were now spider food.
Hah! I wanted to know how she does it!!! So I disconnected the anchors of the web, watched the web collapse in on itself and float toward the planter. Then I sat very very still, calmed my body and watched her with great curiosity.
At first, all I could tell was that she was sitting still. But then in the sunlight, I could see a tiny glistening filament of web floating in the air. I watched the filament, and eventually, (it must have been lengthening as she released it from her body) it stuck to the tree branch. Then she carefully moved along the filament, stopping every inch to weave a denser filament, until she reached the tree branch. Soon, another filament was floating in the wind in the direction of the other tree branch. Within 5 or 6 minutes, she had woven the web, basically back to how I had found it this morning.
So, this marvelous creature, in the face of repeated total destruction of her whole environment, simply started over, almost without pause. I’m assuming there wasn’t a period of “Poor me, that stupid human has torn up my web again, I think I’ll sit here and pout.”
Inspired, I went into the office to work on my web. No pouting.
Thank you, “Charlotte”. I can’t wait to see your web tonight when I get home.
Editor's Note: Curiosity opens possibility every time. Thank you, Susan, for demonstrating so beautifully this principal of living in stillness. To those of you who have not yet met Susan, she is a valued and long-time member of the Stillness family. You can meet her at the Stillness Family Reunion on July 25-26.
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