Hubby and I are trying to adopt a healthy lifestyle by walking after dinner. So off we went to experience health. The smell of sweet grass hung in the air while rabbits and chipmunks scurried around chasing butterflies and bugs. An idyllic evening to catch up on the days events.
I slowed my gait slightly to absorb the beauty of the mountains and the golden cloud formations that could only be described with a deep exhale accompanied by an “Ahhh.” I turned to look at hubby and felt a deep appreciation of his kindness and love. But wait, he stood there bent over. My heart panicked. “Is something wrong?” I yelled and he did not respond. I hurried to his side to get a better look at his condition.
“Are you alright? I questioned as I placed my hand on his back.
“What is that?” he pointed at a smooth long smooth stick narrowed at both ends.
“A snake?” I questioned.
“Nah” was his response sounding as if he was an authority on UFO’s “Unidentified Fallow (sorry, this was the only word I could come up with that fit the description) Objects.”
I picked up a twig and moved it. Up popped a head. You need to stop this picture and examine this paused clip.
All living critters looked in our direction as my ex-police/detective (super hero) screamed like a seven-year old girl. He leaped from his bent over position and walked backwards in the air to get away from the imminent danger. To him, it was an attack serpent that only Hollywood could produce. As his feet touched the ground, I picked up the baby to look at more carefully.
Now, I have no problem with snakes unless they’re of the poisonous variety. This one wasn’t, it was a baby taking in the heat of the ground, but hubby has a thing about snakes – they really freak him out. I guess that comes being born and raised in Hawaii where there are no snakes.
I thought this snake might be a good photo opportunity so I planned to carry it home with me. I took a step toward hubby and he retreated five more steps. That REALLY freaked him out. He threatened to find the biggest spider he could find and bring it home if I didn’t put the snake down. I am a true arachnophobe and the thought of a spider near me sent shivers down my spine.
So, to keep from having a snake/spider war, I put the rubber boa down. Hubby forced me to show my empty hands cleansed of any concealed snake and we continued our healthy walk home with no snake photos today. Hubby stayed on the sidewalk free from crawling monsters.
I will continue to look for the snake. Meanwhile, enjoy the photos I took on our little walk.
Maralee
Through My Lens 
There are probably many of us that are relieved that you didn’t photograph the snake. I am amazed that you could pick it up. Your cousin Diane has, I think, the biggest snake fear of anyone I know (except maybe your husband). She didn’t even read the chapter in her H.S. biology book that contained snake pics. I can look, but don’t want one near me. We used to always have garter snakes at the cabin on what we would call “snake island”. Cousin Michael took 7 out of there once and put them near other cabins. I was told that in the next day or 2, there were 33. (That must have been before he placed them elsewhere).
I remember Mike handling the snakes. We had garter snakes at our cabin and that’s where I got rid of my fear of them. One of my classmates picked one up in front of me and I told myself if she can do it, I can do it. So ever since then I haven’t been afraid of snakes. When I was pretty young, I used to terrorize Kaye, Peggy and Lori by chasing them with a snake. I guess I wasn’t very nice when I was young. 🙂
We fear snakes unnecessarily, most of the time they are doing there best to get away from us. I have handle most of our snakes, even the poisonous ones. However there is one I will not touch and that is the Black Mamba a deadly aggressive snake. But as I said most snakes are doing their best to get away from you. Spiders don’t, they sneak up on you and bite without cause, I’m like you, keep them away from me, or all 120kg of my weight is going to be falling on them.. Been bitten twice by the Violin Spider, and have two holes in my leg to prove it.. now if a spider moves I’m going to kill it…
I think one of the reasons I dislike spiders (other than that they’re big and hairy and crunch when you step on them) is that I’ve been bitten so many times by spiders and when they bite me I get a huge red welt. I haven’t heard of violin spiders before but they sound vicious.
You’ve described some of my own walks with my wife. The thing could be dead, and it elicits the same reaction in her. When we walk I am on constant snake watch, for apparently there is one thing worse than a snake one sees from 20 feet away . . . a snake one almost steps on.
I don’t particularly like or dislike snakes, but can somewhat understand how people can have negative reactions when encountering one . . . I myself feel the same way about most politicians; I just want to stomp on them and rid the world of the things.
I agree with you on the politician bit – but they’re difficult to eradicate. I am still going to look for a snake to photograph. The one we saw last night was pretty small – I think it was a baby rubber boa. It was only about a foot long and about 1/2″ in diameter. The one we had in our garden earlier this spring must have been a momma or poppa – it was about 3′ and about 2″ in diameter. I keep looking for it when I go in the garden. My husband won’t step foot in there after that episode.
Waaaaahhhh!!! I wanted to see snake photos! Add me to the “hate spiders” club, though I don’t run screaming from them. I hate them for the reason others noted: that sneaky bite in the middle of the night that grows into a welt beyond anything I’ve ever gotten from a mosquito or bee.
I’m going to keep looking for one of the snakes to photograph before the end of summer and see if I can get it to cooperate in posing for a photo.
I happen to be writing a novel about an ex-police/detective. Somehow I doubt readers would buy into that peculiar Idiosyncrasy as a reassuring character trait. But I’d love to work it into the story somehow.
Hubby was with Honolulu Police Department for 28 years. He can handle most everything – decapitations, shootings, blood and guts (unless it’s his own), but there are two things that will make him weak in the knees – snakes and getting a shot. I guess everyone has their idiosyncrasies. 🙂
You know, this might just make for a more realistic character. A hard drinking, hard living detective afraid of snakes and shots. I love it. I think I want Robert Downey, Jr. for the movie.
Sounds like a good character part for Robert Downey, Jr.
To be honest, I came here with a little fear, BUT I am so glad I didn’t see a snake 🙂 Instead of this beautiful photographs, especially this lovely rabbit… Thank you dear Maralee, I am in the group who fear from snakes, spiders, crocodile,…etc. Please be careful…. Love, nia
Thank you, Nia. The snakes we have where I live are not poisonous so I don’t get too concerned about that. But about 40 miles east they have rattlesnakes. I won’t go near those.
What beautiful photos and a great story. I am totally with you on the spiders. Well, maybe three steps behind you. I love love love photos 3 and 4.
Thank you so much, AJ. When I was a kid, if I was home alone and saw a spider, I’d have to call a neighbor to come and kill it. We used to get these beautiful spiders with red backs and they really freaked me out.
Thanks, AJ. I’m still looking for the (or any) snake to photograph. I think they’re such interesting creatures. But if I’m going to do a spider I’ll need a really long lens.
man, i was actually looking for snakes today – sigh – perhaps later?
We really don’t have too many snakes around here so they’re difficult to photograph. I’ve lived here for 12 years and I’ve only seen two – and both were this year. Maybe I just haven’t been looking for them. I’m going to keep my eyes open.
i should hope so! some snakes aren’t known for their ‘pleasing’ personalities you know
Neat story. Chuckling at the image of your husband’s reaction 🙂
It’s funny how men react to certain things. His fear is snakes and needles. He hates getting shots. Even watching it on t.v. – he has to turn his head when they show someone getting a shot.