And while I’m on the subject, let me include you in an
animal related memory regarding snakes.
I do think it’s time for them to take a more positive place in the lobes
of our still primordial brains alongside those creatures which compel us to
love them. How easy it is for baby faced
kittens and puppies with their little pink, wet noses and big Keane eyes to
lure our hearts and minds into a nurturing and protective mode. And how warm and comforting it is to our egos
when they look up at us adoringly, perhaps in request for food or cuddle close
to us perhaps in a search for warmth.
How calming it is to stroke that soft fur and elicit a purr or a warm tongue
kiss. And now that we read that the
presence of a pet can add a reassuring few years to our lives, that is a
payback that humans find even more gratifying.
It was several years ago. My husband made reservations to visit Shambala Preserve, a sanctuary for abandoned exotic felines. It’s located in Acton, California, north of Los Angeles. Being animal lovers, this type of environment afforded us the closeness to these most beautiful creatures that doesn’t depress as do city supported zoos, mostly inhumane roadside tourist attractions and circuses which exploit and harm the majesty of animals. It was here that I saw my first snake up close and personal. I could feel the back of my neck tingle with all my preconceived, ill-informed notions of this reptilian symbol of male dominance and the equally ill-informed thought of its textural feel of slime.
It was several years ago. My husband made reservations to visit Shambala Preserve, a sanctuary for abandoned exotic felines. It’s located in Acton, California, north of Los Angeles. Being animal lovers, this type of environment afforded us the closeness to these most beautiful creatures that doesn’t depress as do city supported zoos, mostly inhumane roadside tourist attractions and circuses which exploit and harm the majesty of animals. It was here that I saw my first snake up close and personal. I could feel the back of my neck tingle with all my preconceived, ill-informed notions of this reptilian symbol of male dominance and the equally ill-informed thought of its textural feel of slime.
The messenger, dressed in safari khaki, emerged from the visiting crowd. Around his neck, a draped, rather sizable snake rested calmly and comfortably. Those who noticed stepped back abruptly grabbing those who didn’t in an unneeded rescue mission. I watched from a safe distance. I found it humorous as I watched while giving birth to a thought of how over reactive human beings can be based on false perception. And then I thought of my own resistance to fact. It was then I decided to do my own rescue mission, saving myself from a lifetime of snake aversion.
“I’ll be right back.”
The announcement startled my husband, but I was already on
my way toward the messenger and his companion.
“Hi, can I touch your snake?” I asked as I reddened,
realizing my double entendre.
He smiled.
“Sure, go ahead.”
Thinking it was best not to think about how to proceed, I mindlessly
reached out and ran my hand down the body of the reptile. As I did, my face broke out into a smile so
broad it hurt my cheeks.
The snake felt smooth like a fine, Italian leather jacket
and it was cool to the touch. It wasn’t
wet; it wasn’t slimy; it wasn’t scaly…and it wasn’t repulsive. I began to feel emboldened with this new
found awareness.
“Do you think I can hold him?”
I did expect a kind of resistance resembling, “Well, I don’t
know. He is a snake after all.”
But what I got was very different. Without a word, the messenger lifted off the
snake from around his neck and placed it around my shoulders. I almost fainted in awe of my heroism, the
elements of which I never considered I had.
The snake rested as calmly and as comfortably as he did on
the messenger. My thoughts raced, my
eyes teared and my heart pounded. Here I
was with a snake on my shoulders. This was a moment of a very rare and enormously valued enlightenment which is
underestimated by my lack of vocabulary.
This was a moment that I cherish.
This was a moment that I gave up fear in exchange for facts.
6 comments:
YAY! I am delighted that you are doing this blog. What you have to say is always interesting!
--Elise
Thank you, Elise, for taking the challenge. You're a brave woman.
now this is very interesting mad mady!!! as you took an unbelievable act of faith by embracing mr.snake.... you challenged yourself in more ways the one!
what comes to mind , is our judgements about what we think a situation could be rather than what is.... if one takes risks like the one you took... life opens up! and our preconceived notions about anything or anyone become realized so differently, so positively... more importantly we are PRESENT in the situation instead of being in FUTURE FUCK.. much more productive! xox mimala
As I enter my "new phase" aka middle age aka next century aka I freakin' turned 50 this year, just as I think I've done/heard/seen it all, you open my mind Ms. Mad and friends. I love your and Mimi's online conversations. You're my messenger in a way, you put that damn snake on my shoulders every time I read your words. And it's not scary at all! uncomfortable sometimes, but always making me a better person. thanks! keep writing my heroines!
That you found in my words what was consciously and subconsciously meant is incredibly meaningful to me. I now know that I will never have to explain myself in our friendship as you'll know what's going on in my head before I do.
Paula, I can thank Facebook and Lynne Stewart for you. You entered my life with a love for our mutual passion: Cats. You have remained my friend since even if through a mostly virtual process. And now, you enter my brain through another virtual process. I thank you for it all. And, btw, Mim and her sister are responsible for my entry into this babbling world of blogging. They persisted until I capitulated. And I thank them for it. Oh, and you can be assured there are more online conversations to come.
Post a Comment