Around The Bluhmin’ Town

By

Judy Bluhm

Are you tolerant of unannounced houseguests? What if one just walked through your door, wants the run of the house, and has eight legs. You might recall that my friend, Diane, has had a tarantula, fondly named Manuel, who has been visiting her home since the1990s! It all started one July day, when Diane noticed something with a big belly and hairy legs walking into her house through an open door (no, it wasn’t her neighbor). Yikes, a big, furry spider was strutting around her kitchen!

From that moment on, a tradition (or migration pattern) started. Each year, the tarantula arrives usually sometime in August, hanging around until the end of September or early October. He leaves the same way he arrives, quietly and without any fanfare. He makes the perfect houseguest, since he finds his own food, doesn’t demand too much attention and pretty much goes about his routine, not getting in anyone’s way. Manuel walks around the house, on the counters, on the ceilings, into the shower – he goes everywhere!

Consider the kind heart and calm disposition that it takes to open your home to a chubby spider! Not a pet, nor a companion, just a little creature of God that strolled innocently in through an open door. After checking out the premises and the occupant, this tarantula liked what he found. He’s been coming back annually, with pretty much the same behavior and habits. Like an old friend, he just likes to “hang out.”

A few years ago, Diane got a heart-pounding surprise when one morning she grabbed her sack of Velcro curlers, reached into the bag and found Manuel sitting amid pink rollers! After a hair-raising scream, the dogs came running to see what the ruckus was all about. (That summer Diane wore her hair straight).

Did you know that female tarantulas can live up to twenty-five years? The males?

Not so lucky. Usually, the males have a life span of ten to twelve years. Could Manuel really be a girl? Or is this an offspring of Manuel? I guess we’ll never know, but he seems to have found “true love” when it comes to Diane.

An arachnid specialist at the Phoenix Zoo speculated that this tarantula has an established migration path each year to include Diane’s home. And it is likely this migration pattern could have been “imprinted” in the offspring. What does Manuel do during his visits? He just strolls around, sometimes he can be seen on a wall, or sitting on the back of her sofa, watching television, or snoozing in the corner of her bedroom. He just seems to “fit in” and mostly keeps to himself.

This year, Manuel has yet to arrive at Diane’s house. We are worried, but on a few occasions, he has arrived in September. Dear Readers, let’s remain hopeful. While there are plenty of problems in the world, the stars will line up just right if Manuel finds his way back “home.” If you see one of our Arizona wonders, the tarantula, please do not be afraid. They make perfect houseguests. Leave your porch light on.

Judy Bluhm is a writer and local realtor. Contact Judy at [email protected]or visit www.aroundthebluhmintown.com.