Fear..

How can such a small little bug (ok they are really big) evoke such fear, panic, and anxiety.

In our last house, a few times a year I would find one of these in our house. The panic would set in and I could not move on until I knew that it was dead or contained. Typically the vacuum was the best bet. I could pull the long tube out, stand quite the distance from the horrible beast, and suck it up, letting it whirl around in the powerful Dyson before being assured that it was indeed dead and contained. Moving to our new house, a much newer house, I had high hopes that I would NEVER see one again.... WRONG! I saw my first one tonight. It was in the garage (thank God), on the wall. We pulled into the garage and there it was on the wall. I was struck with a paralyzing fear, and knew I could not do anything until it was taken care of. Jared laughed as he got Addy out of the car (who was fast asleep). I went over near the wall looking around for what I could squish it with (the vacuum seemed like a lot of work to haul outside). And there in a donate box was a Swiffer! I grabbed it and carefully lined it up with the bug which had decided to relocate and boy are they fast, and SQUISH! I GOT IT!

One would think that would be the end. Its dead, squished, gone, not coming in the house, not going to get me. But it puts me on edge for the whole day (or three or four). I sat on the couch to upload pictures and the computer cord, which was running over the back of the couch, lightly brushed along my arm and nearly shot me through the roof!

I am however, completely aware that this odd House Centipedophobia is completely irrational, that the many legged creature is not out to get me, is much more afraid of me, is much tinier than me, but my mind just cannot grasp this. It is the one thing that I fear more than anything (even flying, which if you know me, I am horribly afraid to fly) but this giant bug makes my skin crawl and paralyzes me with fear. Irrational yes but fear none the less. But if my biggest fear is a bug, then I guess I am not that bad off! (But be ready for panic and a mission to destroy if you are around me when I find one!)