• Sharon De Vore
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Me at Silver Springs, Florida

This photo was taken in late 1999, a little over 10 years ago, when I went to Silver Springs, Florida. A friend & I walked around watching the various shows. One show was on insects in Florida. Well one of the insects/arachnids that the instructor showed, was a tarantula. So we could see it more clearly, and so that we could see what he was showing us about the spider, it was projected on a large screen. I did not look. Spiders are too scary for me to look at. Well, then the instructor wanted someone from the audience who was afraid of spiders to come up. I certainly tried to get even smaller than I already am. However, he picked me. (guess he saw that I did not look at the tarantula at all, because I certainly did not raise my hand.) I said no over and over again, but people said yeh, go ahead, and the person I was with said to go too. So up on stage I went. He put goggles on me and a vest and then handed me a frog to hold. Well it let out a yellow liquid, and it so startled me that I let it drop. Ooooops. The instructor said don't squeeze it (I didn't), and gave it back to me and then put some bug on the vest that I was wearing and then another kind of bug on the other side of the vest. He was talking all the while about them, and then, unbeknownst to me, he put that tarantula on my right shoulder, and then I saw the audience faces and knew that something terrible was happening. I threw the frog & whipped that vest off so fast and was at the other end of the stage before anyone knew what had happened, including me. The instructor obviously was not expecting that and ran to save the tarantula, bugs and frog. The people in the audience afterward told me how brave I was; that they would have fainted or had a heart attack. Brave???? Huh??? I did not stick around to see that spider. The instructor said that it was to make me not afraid of spiders. .... He must have been kidding. Afterward he gave me a certificate and this photo that was taken when the frog squirted the yellow liquid Again, and I made a face and said “oooooooooo”. Yep caught on camera at that moment. Hope you enjoy!

48 Comments

Anonymous Guest

surekha rao 18 Jan 2010

Very interesting memories to share, Sharon! Love it!!

Joanna Jungjohann 17 Jan 2010

pretty girl sharon!~

Sharon Lee 17 Jan 2010

Love the story too! I love the pic of you!

Maureen Bloesch 16 Jan 2010

and I LOVE arachnids!

geoff cooper 16 Jan 2010

great story, love the glasses...

Jan van Baarle 16 Jan 2010

Great shot.

Eugenia Abramson 14 Jan 2010

What a funny and lovely story! And beautiful picture!

Anna Marie Fritz 13 Jan 2010

I love frogs...and my favorites are the tiny green tree frogs. I have had several as pets over the years. They come to the Rose bush at my back door, virtually every day, and let me pick them up and hold them.

Olga van Dijk 12 Jan 2010

Oh man.... what a story! Love the pic!!*Love and Light, OLGA*

Nelly van Nieuwenhuijzen 12 Jan 2010

thanks for sharing!!! smiles here...

Aqua1955 11 Jan 2010

I see... you never kissed a frog lolzzzzzzzzzzz

jamie winter 11 Jan 2010

wonderful write up and image, Sharon

gianantonio zago marino 11 Jan 2010

you were so scared that you forgot to kiss the frog-Ten years have passed and the prince is still waiting for a princess who release you from the spell

Loredana 10 Jan 2010

Great image and Write up Sharon

Lorna Skeie 10 Jan 2010

Thank you for sharing that. It is a great story. You are much bravery that I would have been. I am not really affraid of spiders but I don't like surprises like that. Rats and mice are my big fear. I can understand.

Maria Murphy 10 Jan 2010

aww you look so cute with your two pigtales.I am like you.I can not look at spiders ,if I do, I throw up, (sorry) .You were so brave to have even went up on stage, I would have jumped out the window, lol.Fab shot and great story Sharon.

Shakeh Sarookhanian 10 Jan 2010

Very nice picture,Love all the story!

mel taylor 10 Jan 2010

Wow! Either that guy is REALLY tall..or you are a tiny little thing!!!! smile.. Either way...you are beautiful!!!

Nira Dabush 10 Jan 2010

A great moment captured in time. You look so BEAUTIFUL. My kid Yarin think you are a girl :-).. Thanks for sharing.. have a delightful day, love from Israel. xxx

Lar Fajardo 10 Jan 2010

Wow! I hate when they pick the one person who is not raising their hands. I think they get a kick out of scaring those who are scared. I would've died!

Brenda Loveless 10 Jan 2010

can't believe he did that!!! sounds like shock therapy; you're a big person to share that story, though:)

Sigridur Bachmann 10 Jan 2010

I´m not sure I like this photo, but the story was funny ! :-))

Donald Schrier 10 Jan 2010

Good story. I would think that guy would be lucky to be alive today doing stunts like that. I guess to the audiance it would appear to be funny but I am sure you did not think so. Wounder if he agaed as well as you did over the 10 years.

Patty Day 10 Jan 2010

Great story, cute shot!!

Robin Foss 10 Jan 2010

Happy New Year.

Steve Haynes 10 Jan 2010

nice to read your story Sharon

Marika Antal 10 Jan 2010

What a brave lady you are!!

Basant Soni 09 Jan 2010

Incredible ...very interesting way u have expressed ..!! Wish u happy & prosperous new year 2010........

lillianhibiscus 09 Jan 2010

What an experience!

woodrow williams 09 Jan 2010

Great shot Sharon, ...Love those Goggles your wearing.

judit dora 09 Jan 2010

I think that you were brave to go up there. I would out and out regect the ivent. I also dont like eather one. Thank you for the wonderful comments you give me today. Painting with knife is totally new for me and you know, I like it. This painting are the first ones I have ever try to do it with the knife. Thank you again. XO

BILL NAGY 09 Jan 2010

Great story, Sharon. I would have done the same thing.

Laurel Talabere 09 Jan 2010

Thanks for sharing this great and memorable shot!!!

kelvin Hughes 09 Jan 2010

nice to see you hopped right up there sharon lolo well done great fun

athala bruckner 09 Jan 2010

cute.... I would have done the same... I cant stand spiders....

Calvin McFarlane 09 Jan 2010

ya little fox you!

John Cappello 09 Jan 2010

I love that expression! )) It's a good thing I read the definition. I though at first sight You were carrying a Hamster!

James Carney 09 Jan 2010

Cute picture story, I am not afraid of spiders, but I would rather there were not on me.

Shannon Slaydon 09 Jan 2010

Loved the story, Sharon! So funny! I'm not scared of spiders, but... a tarantula is a different story! I would have never gone up on that stage! You're so brave!

Vivian Gutierrez 09 Jan 2010

cute!!!

Ai Shan 09 Jan 2010

Lovely story and great photo, dear Sharon!

Julie Mayser 09 Jan 2010

A very funny story,Sharon! HAhahahaha!

Caballero Salguero 09 Jan 2010

Thanks so much,Sharon. Very cute animal, so intrepid for the childrens.Fantastique dream. Great capture.Good Photo. José

Annette Labedzki 09 Jan 2010

very cool..love the goggles and the prince charming!

ruth sears 09 Jan 2010

I hardly recognized you here,I think it is the hair color, so much darker,but a very amusing story and great earlier shot of you,thanks for sharing this dear Sharon.

jerry carlin 09 Jan 2010

With a frog in your hands and a bee on your vest!

LISETTE GOSSELIN COTE 09 Jan 2010

YOU SURELY WERE A BRAVE GIRL,JUST READING YOUR STORY GIVES ME THE CHILLS...AM SOOOO AFRAID OF SPIDERS ,NEVERMIND A TARANTULA....VERY CUTE PIC OF YOU!

Stefani Wehner 09 Jan 2010

Great shot and funny story. We were at a show like this in Everyglade City.Contrary to you I love spiders and snakes.

Artist Reply: Thank you Stef. I do not mind snakes and probably would not mind spiders if I had not run into a large banana spider walking in the bamboo behind our house in Panama when I was a very small child. It stretched across my face, and I saw those colored legs across my eyes for years & years. Hugs, Sharon