Bugs- Childhood memories

The past few days I have been remembering random memories from when I was growing up. Since this is kind of like a journal and my memory pretty much is worthless at times, I decided I need to write these down when I remember.
A few days ago I noticed a spider up in the corner by my shower. It was tiny- most probably wouldn't have even noticed it, but I notice those gross little things! I hate spiders. In all actuality I hate any and all insects, creepy crawly nasty things. I have gotten much better at reacting to any bug I see, simply because I used to freak out, but have taught my kids to freak out as well. So I have to PRETEND to be brave when there is a little something crawling around so my kids will see all you have to do is kill it and move on, even though inside I am screaming and totally grossed out!
First memory of bugs... I do have to say I blame my mom for my total and complete fear of bugs. I don't know if she just has never been scared of bugs, but it wouldn't phase her at all if there was a bug. When we lived in Las Vegas we lived in an older part where there were cockroaches. My insides are churning just thinking about them. GROSS! During the day it was fine, but at night they were out. One night my mom was cleaning and I think she had just killed a roach, I saw it, and even when it was dead I would stay on the couch until it was completely cleaned up. My mom picked up the stupid nasty bug and threw it towards me!! I screamed like CRAZY! I ran and she was chasing me with this nasty dead bug! I know one of my other sisters was running with me, I think it was Larae. We ended up in the bathroom and locked the door. My mom got it opened and threw it on us! I think she must have been very bored that day! After that anytime she pretended to throw anything at me I would scream and run. I know there were a few times of it being a wad of black thread from her sewing- but she would pretend it was a bug and throw it at me just to make me scream. I laugh now about it but then it truly scared me- heart pounding sweating fear.
Another thing I absolutely hated as a kid was when it was time to clean out the sheds in the back yard. Hello- bugs! We would have to get all the boxes out so we could sweep the floors and reorganize the things my mom and dad had saved for us from elementary school, and all the other stuff in there. A box would come out and a few bugs would come out around them, of course I would scream and jump on anyone or anything I could to get off the ground. One day my friend Julie was there. Julie wasn't afraid of the bugs, but didn't like them on her or near her. I am having a hard time typing this because I can't quit laughing. Julie had her back to me and had already witnessed when a box was moved a few bugs came out of hiding. With her back to me, I picked up a shoe with a shoe lace and drug the lace up the back of her leg. She screamed and said "SH**" I know to you who weren't there it probably isn't that funny- but it really was at the time. Julie swearing in front of my mom and hopping around thinking there was a nasty bug on the back of her leg.
Another memory that sticks out is when Darrell and I were engaged. I don't think there had been any roach issues anymore- funny what a bug man can do!! Anyway, if you don't remember I had my appendix out the week before we got married. I can't remember if this happened the day I got home from the hospital or the day after- which ever it was- I was still very sore and drugged up. I was laying in bed watching a movie with Darrell, I think I was pretty much asleep because of the Lori tab. Anyway, I felt something on my arm. I was a little funny on the pain medication- said lot's of weird things- Darrell must have really loved me to not run away by that point! I told him something was on my arm...... Wait- I forgot a crucial part of the story! I was having to wear my Mom's nightgowns since all my pajamas were pants and t-shirt type things. I couldn't have anything touching the incision. So I was blessed to have a mom who had the Grandma type nightgowns with lace at the top down to the chest, and they each were in a lovely shade of pastel. Seriously- Darrell really must have loved me! Ok, back to the story...
I told Darrell there was something on my arm. He looked and said there wasn't. I was very slow at moving, but I knew something had been on me! I started sitting up, when Darrell jumped. Ok, he didn't jump to a sitting position, he jumped clear off the bed! Side note- I was under the covers, and he was on top of the covers- no hanky panky going on! He turned on the light and there on the pillow was a bunch of roaches! One had crawled on me and one crawled on his arm also. I got up really fast and started screaming like crazy- I'm sure anyone in my family still has what my scream sounded like stuck in their head- I could scream! My mom came running in and was trying to figure out what in the heck was going on. I was standing on the bed, trying to jump down since that's where the bugs were- screaming and Darrell was trying to find out where these bugs came from. After a few minutes we found out where they came from. I had bought a whole bunch of candy bars and tied them up in an Albertson's bag and hid them under my bed. My sister would eat them if I left them out, so I hid them and forgot I hid them! They were under my bed- and guess who else likes chocolate?! Yep, roaches!! My mom and Darrell were laughing, I was screaming- but the bag was taken out and the nasty bugs killed! On the way back in the room my mom said to Darrell, "Man, the Lord is really paying attention to make sure you and Alissa don't mess up before the wedding- first the appendix, then the bugs." Darrell laughed and said back, "I don't think we are going to have any problems, Alissa is wearing a nightgown that smells like Oil of Olay, and looks like a grandma nightgown, she is completely out of it with her pain meds. I know we'll be just fine!"
After Darrell and I were married there was no one else but him and I to kill any spider or anything we saw in our apartment. I had to learn to kill bugs. This was really hard for me. I would sneak up to it, and them usually miss hitting it with a shoe because I was so scared it would run toward me. After a year or so I go to where I could kill it with out freaking out and screaming as I killed it. But I couldn't ever clean it up. Darrell would come home from work and there would be a squished spider he'd have to clean up. I finally got smart and would pull out the vacuum after I killed one. I was progressing!
Now, like I said I have to be brave, well pretend to be brave. My kids know I don't like any bugs, mice, snakes, the list could go on and on. I am a sissy to those things. I would for sure rather run and scream then have to kill one and clean it up. We now live in Arkansas where in the summer the spiders get HUGE! Yes, we do have a bug man- and he is a super hero to me! I love when he comes- it means the spiders will be gone for another 3 months. My kids think he is a super hero as well. They follow him around and talk his ear off about how he helps get rid of the bugs.
So there is a little glimpse into my life. Like I said some may not care to read of my childhood trauma's and funny stories- but I need to keep track of them for me! Oh, please don't think my mom was this mean mom who tortured her kids. I have a great mom- man, why couldn't I have inherited some of her bug braves?!