Fear Factor

I am not fond of snakes. Not even a little. To put it bluntly...
I can't stand the things. Not to mention the fact that I am extremely afraid of the evil looking creatures. They give me the willies, the hee-bee bee-gees, and the freaks. I don't even like to look at them if they are behind glass at the zoo. Growing up with a brother and no sisters, as well as many boy cousins, I had a lot of hands on experiences with them, or more accurately hands off. Though I did actually hold one when I was about eight years old...well, at least I touched the end of it while the boys were holding it. There is a picture of that somewhere out there.

For some reason boys are naturally attracted to the things. My boys are no exception. When Skyler was about eight years old he caught one and it became his pet. I remember looking at the box he kept it in that he had punched air holes through and thinking to myself, "I sure hope it can't crawl out of those holes." I should have done more than hope. A few days later when I was reaching into the laundry hamper with my bare hand, there it was all curled up inside the bottom of the hamper. The scream that was emitted from our house that day probably broke the sound barrier.

I have had many snake adventures. And they haven't made my intense dislike lessen any. More like intensified it. This isn't the first post I have written on the slithering reptiles. If you are in the mood for more on my snake adventures as a mother go here.

So why am I writing another post on something I despise so much? I will get to that in a minute. But first let me ask you a few questions.

Are you afraid of snakes? Is it a real fear for you?

How do you feel when you see this?

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Or this?

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Or this?

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What about THIS?

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Or this???

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Oops! How did that get in here?????

How about this?

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Or this???

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Or how about trying this one on for size?

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Does it make you wanna do this?

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Or maybe even THIS???

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Well then....

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Yes here I am

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Yes, I am actually holding the feared reptilian! No photoshop involved.

I was getting a little nervous here as it was starting to crawl towards me and up my arm! This was a first for me. I am facing my fear head on! I do have to admit when it started to move and wiggle I nearly dropped it several times. Well... okay, I actually did drop it once, but the boy in the photo caught it. And YES....

I KNOW IT'S A BABY SNAKE!

Sooooooooo!!!! It is STILL a SNAKE and I am HOLDING it! I don't care if it was worm size...it is still a SNAKE! And I repeat: I AM HOLDING IT! See boys? See hubby? See Dad? See bro? See how brave your mother, wife, daughter, and little sister is??? I do not want anymore teasing me, scaring me, sneaking up behind me with one, or any more rubber replicas put in my shower or bed. WHY you ask? Because, because, because...

I HAVE OVERCOME MY FEAR OF SNAKES!!!

(at least the little ones!)

Do. You. Understand? Good! I am glad we are clear on that!!!

SIDE NOTE:

Just a little reminder. You may remember these photos from girls camp where I am ONLY touching the beast.

And I thought I was such a hero for just touching it! Looky how far I've come!!!

Fear conquered!!!