I killed a black widow in my house today...

[hermetic]

8. I got bit by one once

Many years ago. On the side of my face. I was asleep on the couch and felt something tickle my cheek so I brushed it away. After a few minutes a horrific pain started in my face. WTF? I got up and looked around and found a curled up black spider on the floor. I got tweezers and picked it up. Then I saw those red marks. I figured I was about to die.

I called 911 for an ambulance and told them what happened. They said they would take me to the hospital but it would cost me around $1000. I said, "Never mind. I'll drive myself." Which I did. It was only about a 20 drive and it was hurting like crazy. I took the dead spider with me, to show them.

They put me under observation for about an hour, watching my blood pressure. Then gave me some aspirin and sent me home. As you can see, I survived. So they are not necessarily deadly, but extremely painful. If I find one in my house now, I apologize and then smash it. Once was enough.