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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Tandy" data-source="post: 18514" data-attributes="member: 1125"><p>[ATTACH=full]3880[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]3881[/ATTACH] My name is Tandy. I am a new tarantula owner. I have only had my little sweetie since May of this year. The story goes like this... As far back as I can remember, I was taught to be afraid of spiders by my dad. He is the biggest baby when it comes to them. So naturally I picked up the same mentality! I was always terrified and they made me shiver just thinking about them. For some reason, I was always intrigued by them though. Well, earlier this year I was at a little hole in the wall exotic pet store in California ( that's home for me. I drove from North Dakota for a little vacation) Anyway, I was in the store with my 9 and 10 year old siblings. My little brother is scared of snakes... I'm not. So I told him there was nothing to be scared of. Well the smart little booger said "Well,You're scared of spiders!" Touché! So to show them that they have to buck up and face their fears at some point, I asked the woman working there if I could hold a tarantula. My palms were sweaty, my heart was racing, my hands were shaking. First she let me pet her belly. I couldn't believe how soft she was. I was pleasantly surprised! Then the moment came for me to hold her! With my brother and sister staring me down with terror and huddling close to one another, they watched the woman place the tarantula in my palm. As scared as I was, a sense of relief and calmness spread through me. It was almost as if her (tarantula) and I had connected. The lady's mouth dropped open and said I've never seen her do this, as the docile spider lowered her abdomen down into my palm and layed there. My breathing slowed and I felt, accomplished, excited and proud! Of course we left and they bragged to my dad that I had held a giant spider. My dad said I was nuts. All that day I thought about her and her laying in my palm. The next day I called the store and said I would be there to buy her later that day. I know I overpaid for her but I don't even care. After speaking with the store owner more, she said she was five years old and only had one owner. It was a man that bred her and had lived with his sick mother so he could take care of her. Well when his mom died, he had nowhere to live, so be literally gave his entire collection to this store. I got a chance to speak with him and he said my tarantula was special. He said to tarantula breeders and enthusiasts she's an abomination. He said she was half Vagan and half Honduran curly hair. He said she's very calm and hasn't ever bitten. Well, I drove her back to North Dakota with me and she's one happy spider. Never thought I'd love a spider but I do. Meet Scarlett!</p></blockquote><p></p>

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