Suspension of Belief

                             

 

In fiction, one must suspend disbelief, and immerse oneself in a world of make-believe.  Whether it be suspenseful, fanciful, whimsical, charming.  Whatever the case, one puts aside reality and puts herself or himself in the place of believing that the story is real.  Disbelief is what is typically suspended. However, recently I have had to to the opposite...because sometimes reality is a little too real.  Namely, our new friends who have been seen from time to time on the property - bats and tarantulas.

Our first tarantula sighting was while leaving the garage.  Our furry friend was outside the garage, glaring at me.  I had to call Clay over to prove to myself it was real.  That this wasn't some furry toy from the dollar store that some impish child had placed in our path as a prank.  But...
A) We don't know any impish children, because we really know so few people.
B) Despite this desperate hope, the tarantula moved and Clay confirmed it was real.

Cue hebejebes.  Locals say they are fairly harmless.  But boy do they look menacing.  I confess I could not sleep without first checking under the covers for any tarantulas or other creepy crawly things.  Clay kept feeling like it was crawling under his shirt or in his hair.  We are NOT native Californians.  Can you tell?

Now for the Bats.  We first noticed them while we were on the porch taking pictures before the Creston Rodeo Barn Dance.  First we heard their flappy, creepy, creaky wings.  Next we saw them, flying and circling the yard.  We've seen them pretty much every night since.  Shiver, shiver.  They are early.  It is NOT Halloween yet!

We've inspected everything thoroughly and we're pretty sure they aren't nesting on our property.  We think they just fly over to hunt for moths at night.  Fingers crossed. I looked them up, and it doesn't appear that these are the kind that are likely to attack people.  Though Clay has told me that if they come anywhere near me that I must go to the hospital immediately, because they may have bitten and I wouldn't know. And then I will get rabies and die if I'm not treated immediately at the ER.  Comforting thoughts.

But we've finally come to accept them as part of the habitat.  Sort of .  We're in the fake-it-'til-you -make-it phase.  So the second time I saw a tarantula, I stayed far, but took a picture and pretended I was a scientist that was intrigued and excited by seeing this species thrive because they mean so much to me and I really care about bugs.

Then last weekend, Clay and I decided to enjoy the porch and watch the sunset like we did pre bat era. We came armed with wine and cheese to distract us. They did not near the porch, and we drank our wine like good children and ate our fancy cheese with crackers and pretended like the bats didn't creep us out and that we're so glad they do nice things like kill moths.  I have to admit that is a slight perk.  I'm afraid my clothes will be eaten to bits.  Need cedar closet, stat! So there you have it... The suspension of belief:  I am not creeped out by tarantulas and bats.  I love them; they are my friends.