My friends.
If you do not care for spiders, read no further.
I understand. They creep me out on an existential level.
For instance, I have watched the Lord of the Rings movies many times. But I have never seen Shelob? Is that her name?
Not once. Ever. I cover my eyes when they enter that cave.
But tonight, well, I found something very strange and creepy in my garden.
I had gone out to pick a bouquet of sweet peas. I have one plant that has absolutely gone wild. I keep picking them, and they keep blooming. It's a RIOT of sweet peas!
I was happily snipping away when I noticed a wasp tucked up into one of the flowers. I thought he was sleeping. That sometimes happens with bees. So, I sort of nudged him with my scissors to see if he would move along. I wanted that flower!
But what I found was macabre in the extreme. The wasp was dead because a white spider had grabbed him by the head. I didn't even SEE the spider at first because it blended in with the beautiful sweet pea.
My curiosity overcame my aversion to the spider world, and I decided to bring the flower into the house and take some pictures of it. The only way I managed this, was I observed how tenaciously the spider was holding onto its prize and I figured it would stay in the flower and not bother me long enough to get in the house and get my phone.
What follows is a testimony to great courage and fortitude on my part. I hope you appreciate the sacrifice.
I still feel creeped out by the entire encounter. 
I feel like some sort of acknowledgement should be spoken on my behalf, like that line in Star Wars when the woman said, "Many Bothans died to bring us this information." or some such statement of reverence.
Because let me tell you. I'll be shuddering at the memory of this for quite some time.
(Yes, yes. You're very brave. That thing is only about the size of your thumbnail.)
ACK! Don't even say that! I don't WANT it on my thumbnail, is it on my thumbnail?
(You put it outside already. It's over. Pull yourself together.)
I can't. I have the shudders.
(🙄🥱)
Heartless linguistic accessory, have you no compassion?
(Looks like you're out of luck tonight Cupcake. You will have to shudder alone.)
P.S. Grok tells me it's a Goldenrod Crab Spider. I have never seen one in my life until today. And now you have seen it too, if you have come this far in the tale.
I salute you!
