Item One - someone else's spider:
Story from a mountaineer in the Himalayas. He and his young co-climbers were settling down in a stone and mud hut prior to hitting the ice. They didn't have enough cots for all, so they drew straws for the floor. The writer 'won'. Prior to turning out the lights they noticed a large spider on the wall, apparently motionless for the duration. "He's waiting for you," the others joshed. They turned in and the writer, unable to sleep, crept to his feet, and snapped on the light.

The spider was halfway down the wall. "With a sandal I made him a permanent fixture."

Item Two - my spider:


A spider in an airplane is a whole lot better than flies.

I was flying a small airplane from Alaska to the Lower 48. Somewhere early in the multi-day trip I noticed a hitchhiker, a skinny but long legged spider that hid out in the corner between the right side of the windshield and the wing root. In the heat of the morning it would creep out and build enough web to remain in the early sun. I treated it as a bit of nature shedding its favor and hopefully wisdom on my endeavor. The plane was older than me. I was 'on the cheap' not being unsafe, but using as much automobile fuel as possible. But if I was at a large enough airport I might have to use avgas which then called for a lineboy, which at some time resulted in someone opening the door and cleaning out my little friend.