My house has a spider. (Not on the inside.)
Outside, around the frame of my front door, there is a spider who over the last couple of weeks keeps choosing this spot to make a web. I named him Clarence. He’s a red spotted orb weaver, and around this time each year, red spotted orb weavers show up in my neighborhood and around my house. I used to be afraid of them, but a couple years ago, I had another orb weaver who chose the same spot, and I have a really sweet story about rehoming him. (His name was Herbie).
If you’ve followed along this far, sure, you may already think this post is weird, but you’d be surprised how naming spiders can make you less afraid of them. 🙂
Anyway, sometimes, I have to take a broom to Clarence’s web, because, you know, front door. But other times, I’ll just use the backdoor. We’re co-existing. I figure I can do this for a couple of weeks. Plus, these webs are so extraordinary if you take the time to view them. I’m impressed with Clarence.
What I’m most impressed with is his persistence. Yesterday, was a broom day (sorry, buddy). But around 6pm, sure enough, there he was starting anew. And of course, once this geometrically neato thing is built, he just… waits. He’s persistent, and it’s patient.
And yes, I’m anthropomorphizing, and he’s a character now. But if we pay attention to the beings around us, we might learn some lessons too.
— Renee Roederer
Smuggling Grace 