Shock Stopper

Ah, the joys of rural life.

Because our mailboxes are vertical, wind-driven rain often gets through the slot, despite that its cover is held in place by a spring mechanism.

Fed up with retrieving soggy mail and having to sop up half an inch of water inside the box every time it rains, I decided to install a makeshift protective layer with a piece of stiff plastic and some double-sided adhesive.

But I didn't count on finding a huge huntsman spider lurking inside when I popped open the door. I about had a heart attack.

Remembering my brother's dismay the last time I killed a huntsman spider, I resolved to shoo it away without hurting it. Using a screwdriver, I tapped the box, but that didn't work, so I prodded one of the spider's legs, whereupon it bolted out and scuttled up the wall with amazing speed.

Seeing a spider with a three-inch leg span move that fast filled me primordial loathing, but I wasn't finished with it, because the eight-legged freak was now positioned a foot above my head; I was forced to set aside my revulsion and nudge it a little more until it scooted out of sight.

Gyaah.

After my case of the creeps settled I finished rigging the rain guard; it isn't pretty but it's functional.

Let's hope it keeps out the spiders too.

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