Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Lunatic / Urban / Country Mom has mild panic attack...

It had to happen sometime, a sort of close encounter with a snake, close enough to have me wanting to pack. LOL

It was on our way to taking Josh to nursersy school. There in the road is a longish black snake. I go around it but on second thoughts reverse as it is heading straight to our property. As I reverse and stop the slithering bugger decides he will raise and flatten his head. Here's me.....OMG, It's a cobra....(city girl reaction of course) and a (list of silent profanities follow). It heads into the veld and is now on the same stretch of land we're on. OMG, Omg, omg!!!! We get to school with the boys excited and one mom (me) rattled. After chatting to one mom, it turns out it's not a cobra. (Here's me silenty praying it's harmless) . But hope suddenly fades as she states it's definitely a Rinkhals - *Gasp* *Splutter* *you're kidding -- right*, more silent profanities take place in my head. Okay, so they are of the fatal kind!! I can do this. I can still believe in outdoor play and not P*A*N*I*C!! NO!! I panic!!

So one step forward and a zillion back. One slithery snake has me bolting the doors. Irrational or not - until I have a suitable POA (Plan of Action) that I am comfortable with. The boys will not be outside unless I am with them. One Garmin about to be programmed with every route to every available emergency room close to home and maybe some calls to Dr's rooms nearby to find out if they are prepared for snake bites.

I can do this.........................

Uhhm, no I can't. Just looked in my dictionary:

Rinkhals noun a large poisonous spitting cobra. (from Dutch)

4 comments:

angelinabeadalina said...

Okay, I have been trying to get over my fear of snakes because most of them are just harmless creatures who like to eat mice...but ACK! I was silently spewing a "holy-insertprofanity" every couple of seconds while reading this, Mich. I find that I'm having trouble being a voice of reason on this one, so here's a bunch of virtual hugs from me today!

Deb said...

I'm not going to be much better than Ang at being the voice of reason here either Mich.

I don't mind snakes, but then again I live in a country that doesn't have any.

Perhaps ask around & find out what others in the area do to keep themselves safe, & whether they are a common thing at this (or any) time of year. Forewarned is forearmed ;o)
A big hug from me too - & take deep breaths.

Capt Elaine Magliacane said...

Ok, here's my tiny bit of advise... make lots of noise... most snakes will avoid contact with you if at all possible... so for example my dogs and cats wear bells... I usually carry a radio... or I talk to myself, and carry a walking stick that I beat the ground and or smack the trees with... that's the DON'T make me shoot you method... I also carry a weapon on my person... the first round in the revolver is 'snake shot'... like a tiny shotgun shell for a pistol... for shooting... SNAKES... Now for the good news... I rarely.. and I mean VERY rarely ever see a snake in the woods anymore... due in part to my noise making efforts... I'd put bells on the boys shoes... and on your dogs collars too...

Anonymous said...

I know the make "snake away" that works (or seems to) for pit vipers. You could research to see if there was something they didn't like in addition to noise. I also make noise when in the field.
Kare