scout86
VIP Member
That would be the kind with wings.
I have a thing about bats. One of the things that sends "vigilance" into the realm of "hyper-vigilance" is being awakened by the flutter of wings in the dark. Ok, I don't much like bats when they show up in my living room either.
I try not to let on how MUCH I dislike bats. I like to think of myself as "bullet proof and invisible" able to deal with literally anything (except my mother) in a calm and deliberate manner. People think I can handle stuff and look to me for answers. How can I admit I panic when confronted with a small, winged rodent? Last summer, when I spent a couple of literally sleepless nights because of a bat visitation, I DID mention the reason to my T, because I was falling asleep in the chair. We talked about bats. He told funny bat stories. The guy is some kind of ninja, he can handle anything, even bats.
So, this morning, I was coming back up the basement stairs from putting clothes in the washer. I noticed a small, brown object on the back of the door. Said object wasn't there the LAST time I came up those stairs. But, the darn thing was between me and the only escape route. I hate it when ANYTHING is between me & the escape route!
Now what? Well, I remind myself of T & his bat stories. And that he says to "remember to breathe". I remind myself that it's broad daylight and the darn thing isn't likely to move if I move the door. After all, I made it past on the way down. I leave the basement.
Now what? Well, I could round up the dogs and burn down the house so I don't have to deal with the bat....... Not practical. And, I HAD considered that I MIGHT be able to use some of T's "bat handling" techniques, if it happened again. AND, HE was talking about doing it in the dark, when the bat was actually active.... I had the advantage of daylight...... I got a clear plastic container (so I could observe the enemy) and a dust pan. I covered the bat. (No reaction. Could it be dead & still on the door????) I started to carefully slide the bat to where I could cover the container with the dust pan. Nope, he's NOT dead! Now he's upset, I reassessed. The bat appeared to be contained, so I continued. The tricky part was sliding him off the door while making sure I didn't lose him. Success! I took him outside and left him, and the container, on the top of the garbage. He's free to go. He's in a darkish place. The cat probably won't get him. That's the best I'm going to do. I hope he doesn't come back!!!!!!
Holy cow! If you'd told me before I started therapy that I'd have been able to do that, I'd have laughed (and wondered how you knew it was an issue). I'm not sure I can exactly share this with my T, because I sort of implied that I didn't LIKE bats, but it wasn't a big deal. I had to share with someone, and you all were who came to mind.
I hope the story strikes you as funny, because it IS, but, you know, it's also kind of cool!
What a way to start the day!
I have a thing about bats. One of the things that sends "vigilance" into the realm of "hyper-vigilance" is being awakened by the flutter of wings in the dark. Ok, I don't much like bats when they show up in my living room either.
I try not to let on how MUCH I dislike bats. I like to think of myself as "bullet proof and invisible" able to deal with literally anything (except my mother) in a calm and deliberate manner. People think I can handle stuff and look to me for answers. How can I admit I panic when confronted with a small, winged rodent? Last summer, when I spent a couple of literally sleepless nights because of a bat visitation, I DID mention the reason to my T, because I was falling asleep in the chair. We talked about bats. He told funny bat stories. The guy is some kind of ninja, he can handle anything, even bats.
So, this morning, I was coming back up the basement stairs from putting clothes in the washer. I noticed a small, brown object on the back of the door. Said object wasn't there the LAST time I came up those stairs. But, the darn thing was between me and the only escape route. I hate it when ANYTHING is between me & the escape route!
Now what? Well, I remind myself of T & his bat stories. And that he says to "remember to breathe". I remind myself that it's broad daylight and the darn thing isn't likely to move if I move the door. After all, I made it past on the way down. I leave the basement.
Now what? Well, I could round up the dogs and burn down the house so I don't have to deal with the bat....... Not practical. And, I HAD considered that I MIGHT be able to use some of T's "bat handling" techniques, if it happened again. AND, HE was talking about doing it in the dark, when the bat was actually active.... I had the advantage of daylight...... I got a clear plastic container (so I could observe the enemy) and a dust pan. I covered the bat. (No reaction. Could it be dead & still on the door????) I started to carefully slide the bat to where I could cover the container with the dust pan. Nope, he's NOT dead! Now he's upset, I reassessed. The bat appeared to be contained, so I continued. The tricky part was sliding him off the door while making sure I didn't lose him. Success! I took him outside and left him, and the container, on the top of the garbage. He's free to go. He's in a darkish place. The cat probably won't get him. That's the best I'm going to do. I hope he doesn't come back!!!!!!
Holy cow! If you'd told me before I started therapy that I'd have been able to do that, I'd have laughed (and wondered how you knew it was an issue). I'm not sure I can exactly share this with my T, because I sort of implied that I didn't LIKE bats, but it wasn't a big deal. I had to share with someone, and you all were who came to mind.
I hope the story strikes you as funny, because it IS, but, you know, it's also kind of cool!
What a way to start the day!
