I think it was more surreal for Shuri. I really understood immediately what had happened and how my quick switch in emotions while playing with her had affected and scared her, and that’s why she was viciously attached to me leg, so it wasn’t world shattering at all, just ouchie and worrisome at the feeling of blood dripping. It’s like those movie scenes where all of a sudden the hero/me looks like they are about to attack their love/partner/side kick/Shuri, who looks disbelieving/appalled/betrayed/scared with them, as the hero/me raises their fist or weapon, and follows through . . . the camera moves back and reveals the stealth attacker behind the love/partner/side kick/Shuri that the hero/me has just knocked out or killed and now you understand and all is right with the world. Poor Shuri, however, didn’t understand, and remained confused for a while rather than relieved.

Thank you--I forgot that is an October thing as they seek shelter from the chill. Sigh. You, me, and Claudia need to stick together in the fall then. I really do appreciate how good and useful and interesting creatures spiders are, but even if I was all rational--spider bites can turn into pretty frightening health events, even not particularly poisonous ones, so there is method in this irrational fear, right?

*hugs back* Thank you. Shuri has seemed a little bit more distant today, so I’m a little concerned she may still be getting over it, but it may just be the change in temps.