Spiders. That Attack.

Did that get your attention? It certainly did mine not long after I moved to Sydney. This 'lil page was in a Sunday supplement, and I immediately tore it out and taped it to the wall. The worst I ever encountered was the orange and green alert boxes above.

Thank goodness. A Sydney funnel-web spider (see above, if you dare) will rear up on its four hind legs, and leap at you, his front four legs clawing the air straight at you. Not a sight I would relish f2f. Gorgeous, nonetheless. As was so much else there. I loved it. I loved those people. I loved that place.

What do the Grand Canyon and the Rolling Stones have in common?

The Grand Canyon and the Rolling Stones? Twice now I've had slightly askew experiences with each one. I've been to the Grand Canyon twice--in the middle of the night. Back in the day with the compulsive/impulsive ex, we drove the northern route from Texas to California. The sign pointing to the G.C. was too much for him to resist, even though we were more than 100 miles south both times, and it was already sunset or later. Result? I've seen the vasty deeps pretty much in pitch dark.

The Stones at least I heard. First time in Sydney, Australia, '96. We lived on Harris Street, down the cliffside from Edgecliff, at the top of a tiny canyon that spread out to a small park and cricket pitch. The Sydney Cricket Grounds were less than a mile away, and the night the Stones played there the sound funneled right up the canyon. Sat on the deck and reminisced.

The Stones were at Zilker Park in Austin a couple of weeks ago, and since I live two blocks from the park, I heard them from a similar distance. This concert was shorter and slower. Can't believe it was ten years ago their sounds filled the air in Australia.

So what's the significance? Must be something happening to have been in proximity to two such major forces of nature and to have had at least one sense muffled or missing from all four experiences. I grudgingly admit to enjoying the G.C. after dark, and fully get behind listening to the Stones without paying obscene ticket prices to either concert.

Maybe it's the ability to be able to feel mostly satisfied with a less than "perfect" experience. But only with forces of nature, I want more from life in general...