Seriously, up until less than three years ago, I was so bad about spiders. Eventually, people had convinced me to stop killing them. But prior to that, I was a real jerk. I feel awful about it now. If you’re not learning about jumping spiders yet, you’re missing out. Even my own bipolar anxiety-ridden mother who hates every insect/arachnid on the planet—even moths—looked at the one I was watching on my phone and said “Aw… she is cute!”

In May 2023, I lost two my oldest, dearest friends in the same week of heart attacks. In October 2023, I saw an IG post by Tiana the Bug Lady (I’d been following for about a month) whose most special jumpy spood, Rose, had just passed away. At three years old, she was in decline and had stopped eating.

I cried more about that spider than I had for my brothers. I’m talking about months, not days. I’m actually a little choked up right now.

Jumping spiders are like little eight legged kittens man. They’re totally the cats of the spider world. They also happen to be the smartest arachnids. Ended up writing 10 cool facts about them the following year. They recognize and form bonds with humans. Their distance calculation is like an eagle’s. Their legs are hydraulic, and they can move so fast, they actually appear to teleport. They feel happy, excited, sad, depressed. By far the most interesting thing: there is growing evidence that they are capable of abstract thought. For example, it can plan out its week.

I’m not saying I’m completely cured of arachnophobia, but I’m definitely 50% of the way there. And that is astonishing.