In Washington State among the 950 or so types identified we have various forms of widows, Hobos, and Yellow Sacs. And I have seen lots of those over the years. In the house we see more “giant house spiders” than anything else. They get trapped in our bathtub frequently and were a favorite prize for our wiener dog, the great spider hunter. My latest bites were most likely from a Hobo because I found some webbing in my boot and they can bite when trapped.
I did know an old lady who was in a multi-level care facility where my wife worked, and I volunteered who was put there by a severe necrotic wound from what was identified as a Brown Recluse. According to our Department of Health we do not have Brown Recluse Spiders here. The one that bit the old lady was from a small group that was found at her home on a place called Anderson Island near Steilacoom, WA. I am not sure how they got there. She was a frequent traveler and one may have laid some eggs on or in something that she brought back with her.
The vast majority of spiders here are harmless and very few are aggressive, but some are just so darned ugly that it is a natural reaction to swat them especially if they are crawling on you for some reason. Outside our house we have hundreds of little black and red jumping spiders running through the grass. I don't think they bite. We also end up with spider webs across the stairs to our porch often, from persistent spiders that seem to come back even after being relocated. Is there anything creepier than pulling spider webs off your face when you are on your way out?
Fortunately, my wife is a very skilled spider swatter; if she sees one crawling on me she springs into action. She is usually able to just swipe them off with a ninja style “hi-yah” without making a mess.
My wife of 47 years died of heart attack in 2018.
I married again 2 years ago. It was and illogical meeting, she is a teller at the bank. I misunderstood a comment she made and it rolled around in my head for weeks and finally I asked her to let me fix lunch for her (on a Sunday). She agreed and we had my Sweet and Sour Chicken, and talked for 3 hours. Repeat a few times and it was clear this was not something either of us planned but we have both been blessed again.
She is not squeamish, but is afraid of mice. One day we were shopping at a HEB store in Abilene, on way out of the building we were met by a mouse trying to get inside via the automatic door. I quickly cut him off along the wall and stomped at him with toe of my boot against the floor. He died instantly, she could not believe how quickly I ended that. And did not make a gooey mess. I did not even think about it, just an old farm boy habit.
I'm 74 and beginning life again. A real blessing.