Faeries Exist!

   Sometimes I have to wonder about the those who get all up in arms about the beliefs of other folks.  What does it matter?   If I want to believe that the world is a giant snow globe or that there are actually purple snakes that spit darts, what business is it of yours?  To be honest, the snow globe thing was an awfully real dream of mine one time but purple snakes?  That said, if you really stop and think about a lot of things that seem impossible, there is usually a plausible explanation.  I tend to ponder things and can honestly understand how things become believable at times.  Still, it is of no concern of anyone's so if my ideas do not suit you, kindly move along.  Most everything here is for pure enjoyment anyway and not to be touted as evidence of any sort.

 My plausible ponderings of today revolved around tiny beings that are said to inhabit the woods, gardens, bayous or any spot anyone wishes to claim.  Faeries, sprites, elves, whatever you wish to call them, were flitting around in the brain today as I weeded the gardens.  There are those who fully believe that these creatures exist...and who am I to say contrary?  There are a lot of unexplained things on the Bayou so faeries may as well be real here.  These beings are a lot like Big Foot and the Loch Ness Monster.  A lot of folks claim to see them but any "photographs" usually just show a blur.  Does it take photographic proof to deem something as real?  Nah.  Some things are just camera shy.  The lack of clear pictures does not dull the interest in the tiny beings of the Bayou, however.  Plus, I have proof!  In photos!  For sure!  Ok, but the photos do sort of explain how some folks may come to have the idea in the first place. 

  While photographing butterflies in the Small Gardens, I found it highly difficult to catch any in flight.  I have a very old camera that does not do well with "action shots" so the wings are skewed and blurry (think Big Foot here).  Still, when looking at the photos, if one sort of squints (or has bad eyesight), the images could be of faeries...maybe?  If nothing else, the photographs lend themselves to be the basis of fantastical tales to amuse small children or easily entertained adults like me. (Also, look at the bottom colorless photo.  If you use the imagination, a faerie appears!  They exist!  Proof! hehe!)

  

  The point is that all of us have beliefs that could possibly be proved false.  We are human.  We are not infallible.  Get over it.  We are not made to be all carbon copies of one another.  That would be boring, to say the least.  So, if my purple snakes, snow globe theory or butterfly faeries are not your thing, I am ok with it.  Just like I am ok with whatever you wish to believe.  Life is too short to fret over others. (You do have to admit that Bayou Faeries and Swamp Nixies are rather intriguing!)

Come now, Folks...

  Convincing some folks that their long held beliefs are erroneous is like trying to convince an elephant to sit in a thimble.  I have just about as much of chance getting that huge animal in a tiny thimble as I do changing the ideas of some folks.  A lot of the beliefs are held onto out of fear.  "Dad always told me"..."I always heard"..."I know what I am talking about" are all things that I have heard over the years.  Sorry, folks...sometimes what you think is not what is correct.  For instance, one person swears that all snakes are "hunting" for people to bite and that all snakes are "poisonous".  Hmmm, I cannot imagine that human safaris are all the rage with snakes and, while there may be a few "poisonous" snakes out there, I do think you mean venomous.  (We won't go there...look it up.) The same person insists that green snakes and black racers are highly "poisonous" (her word).  Nope. Neither are. Nor are they venomous.  In fact, both will refrain from biting you unless you truly hurt them.  Those bites won't hurt either.

  The same belief is erroneously attached to another critter that is quite often found in the area. Folks are quick to claim that a broad-headed skink is (once again) highly poisonous.  Not that I can attest to this but I highly doubt it.  I have not eaten one to find out if it is poisonous so I am in no position to make claims on that supposition.  If the statement had read "A broad-headed skink is highly venomous", I could say without hesitation that there is no truth at all to the idea.  Broad-headed skinks are not venomous...period.  Enough said.  The critter will, however, not shy away from clamping down on your finger, hand, nose or whatever else gets poked into its business.  They will bite.  The fact of the matter is that the skink is merely protecting itself from a huge monster (you) and will use whatever means it has to escape unscathed.  I do not blame them.  I would, too. But, that bite will not feel to overly uncomfortable once you get over the initial shock of something latching onto you.  My best description is the bite feeling a lot like being pinched by two sandy fingers. 

  While the idea of being bit by any critter is enough to scare folks, I have found that if you ever want to catch a skink there is an easy method.  Just corner the critter, poke at it enough and it will catch you.  Once it latches down on your finger, just gently pick it up!  It works!  (And you do not have to worry about poison!  Or venom!)

  As an added note, the fine specimen of broad-headed skink that I found was not harassed into biting.  It is my belief that we can all live in peace...critters and humans alike. The critters have that down pat...to bad humans do not.  This is a male broad-headed skink. It is easy to tell as the males have the bright red heads during mating season.  This nigh on ten inch long beauty was sunning himself after downing a smaller ground skink for lunch.  (Which, by the way, has been labeled as a "highly poisonous scorpion lizard" by our misguided friend mentioned above.  Oh, come on! *Insert a tone of frustration at this point...groan!)

 Getting back to the fact of folks and their misbeliefs, I figure that perhaps it would be easier to help them overcome their fear of the critters.  By pointing out the beauty and the helpfulness of each critter, I may just alleviate their distaste of all things that wiggle, slither, slink, crawl and slide.  Hopefully, then they will "live and let live."  It is a good aphorism and one I try to live by.