Spider, our blessing in disguise!

Returned to our farm because of his feisty attitude, Biter, that ever-wiggling fuzzy ball of grey and white fur, quickly grew into a lanky youngster with a scruffy coat. Never far from our children, then ages 9, 7 and 4, I could quickly locate them playing in the fields by finding Biter's white tipped tail waving above the grasses. Whether they were swimming in the pond, playing in the hay fields, or building a fort under the trees, Biter was right in the action. Finding him another home was out of the question, so when he was running over to plant his muddy paws on our visiting neighbor lady, I worried that my calling, "Biter, Biter!" to get his attention was going to be misconstrued as, "Bite her, Bite her!" So, we settled on the name Spider (...close enough to Biter that he would answer the call, and far enough from "Bite her" to keep on good terms with the neighbors!)

Over the years Spider was just one of the kids. When they were doing schoolwork, he snoozed under the table. When they were doing chores, he was riding on the truck or walking beside the wheelbarrow. He listened to lots of books read out-loud by beginning readers. He swam in the lagoon, climbed the hay piles, sledded in the snow, hunted possums, coons, and armadillos, went to the bank, the feed-store, the park...if the kids ate hamburgers and fries, Spider had a hamburger too (no pickles, please!) He herded cattle, pigs, sheep and goats. He played dress up with our daughter, wearing hats, T-shirts, and dresses. When the kids played toys, he brought his favorites along. He played ball and frisbee. ...If the kids did it, so did Spider.

Spider had definite opinions on people. He loved nearly everyone and often caught visitors off guard with his exuberant go-between-their-legs trick. But, when he didn't care for someone, he could look ferocious, raising his fur and showing his teeth. And, we learned that it was usually best to listen to his viewpoint; he could sense things in people. It made me feel better knowing that Spider was along watching over the kids where ever they went. Ever quick to jump in to protect them, he was bitten by rattlesnakes on two different occasions. (Thank God, he made a full recovery from both bites.)

Looking at that fiercely independent little ball of fur, I could never have guessed what an important part of our family he would become. There is no doubt in my mind that he was a special blessing from God just sent to our family. Our own special blessing in disguise - an angel sent to us in the form of a blue merle collie!