Unfounded Fear?

   When you are fishing around in the Frog Pond trying to pull out some of the spent water hyacinths, the last thing you need to see is a snake.  For me, it is enough to make the work pause while I determine the type of snake.  Here, we have all kinds...both venomous and nonvenomous so it is always a wise move to verify what type is nearby.  There is absolutely no need to put yourself in danger if said snake is apt to make you wind up in a hospital but, on the other hand, there is absolutely no need to quit work if the snake is a friend.  (Unless, of course, the work was not something you wished to do, in the first place.)  Anyway, the snake was identified and the clearing of hyacinths continued.  This was merely my friendly watersnake so there was nothing alarming...at least, not for me.  The snake may have not appreciated this "monster" messing in its domain but that is a different perspective, altogether.

  Finding the snake in the little pond made me ponder just how many folks are terrified of ANY snake.  I have literally seen people have panic attacks over a black racer so I can only imagine how those same folks would have falsely identified this critter as a cottonmouth.  Where did this intense fear originate?   It cannot be contributed to just a phobia as their stories tend to be a bit on the wild side.  "Snakes are all "poisonous."  Nope...while there  may be "poisonous" snakes somewhere...they are extremely rare and...you have to eat them to be affected by the toxins.  Now...there are "venomous" snakes around here but not ALL are in that category.  Most are nonvenomous.   Then I hear,  "Snakes hunt you down to bite you."  Huh?  Why in the world would they do that?  If a venomous snake does bite you, it is because you invaded its territory.  (Like me wallowing in the Frog Pond.)  A snake has more sense than to waste its venom on something that is not going to fill its belly and, trust me, our snakes are not going to eat you.  They cannot.  They physically cannot.    Finally...they resort to "The only good snake is a dead snake!"  What foolishness is that?  All snakes do good things by keeping other critters in check.  Without them, think of how many rats, mice, insects and other critters would be crawling about the place.  Plus, killing anything just because you do not like it is never the right thing to do.  Live and let live...in peace.  It just makes me ponder. 

 

  Perhaps this is a thing passed down through family members.  Pop made sure we could identify venomous snakes over nonvenomous and to let all live if entirely possible.  Possibly, the fear of snakes is a learned thing simply because no one ever took the time to teach kids which to not handle.  Maybe it was just easier to "scare" kids into not messing with any snakes than to take a few minutes teaching them.  Who knows?  Also, there is a big cultural thing that portrays all snakes as "evil" which is a bunch of crock.  To my experiences, humans are the only species that can possibly be called "evil".  Snakes get a bad rap just like crows, ravens, black cats and even goats.  Those poor critters have been splatted across history as being bearers of bad luck, misfortune and even death.  Once again...a big NOPE.  Some folks just have to create a justification for their own silliness.  Critters are not evil.  Snakes are not evil.  This does not mean critters cannot be dangerous but a bit of commonsense should come into play somewhere.  That said, had my snake been an actual cottonmouth (or any other venomous snake), it would have been removed from the Frog Pond simply because the pond is so near the back door.  The watersnake can stay but I do warn visitors that the critter is there simply to avoid any panic attacks.  Me?  I did get those water hyacinths thinned even with my friend having to be shooed off of some that needed pulling.  It obliged and I continued.  We are a pretty good team!

Four Legged Beastie?

  At some point you really have to face fears and just get over them.  For the longest time, spiders were the bane of my existence.  I hated them because I truly feared them.  This all stems from a fear that developed when I was a kid.  Mom had hung an old rug out in the yard to be beaten clean.  The thing draped down to the ground like some huge tent so what else was a five year old to do but...pretend it was a tent. I played under the rug for several days and eventually was bitten by some sort of spider.  Other than hurting, itching and swelling, the bite did not scare me.  What caused the fear was a trip to the doctor to get the bite checked.  Nope.  I did not like spiders from that point forward.  Spider bites meant doctor's visits and THAT scared me!  The only other time I was aware of someone going to the doctor was my grandmother and she wound up in the hospital for weeks.  Having Grandmother away from me scared me.  In my eyes, the doctor took her so doctors scared me.  I had to go to the doctor because of a spider bite so spiders scared me.  It was a weird way of looking at things but in a five year old's mind, it made perfect sense.  My greatest fear was being bit by a spider.

  Then fast forward to about fifteen years ago and another spider bite.  This time, a black widow bit me but I did not go to the doctor.  The bite healed and all was well.  In fact, that bite cured me of the fear of spiders.  I figured that being bitten by a venomous spider and healing with no long lasting effects meant that the critters were not as bad as they are hyped up to be.  I still respect them but I do not fear them

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  Today, Son was out by the front arbor when he noticed a spider.  "Whoa!  A spider with four legs?"  I merely handed him the camera and continued designing the artificial "creek" better known as a drain.  At closer inspection, he informed me that the spider did have the customary eight legs but was just sitting funny.  He took a few photos and let it go at that.  Looking at the photos this evening, I have no idea what type spider is living near the front door.  It is a pretty, little thing and the way it holds its legs does, indeed, make it look like a four-legged beastie.  Am I worried about the critter being so near where I work every day?  Nope.  As Pop used to say "Let the critter look out for itself."  In other words, leave it be.  Chances are far greater that you will be bitten by trying to remove the creature.  Unless, you are playing in a make-believe tent/rug that has been left outside for several days and accidentally squish said creature because you are a clumsy toddler, you really have no worries!  Our friendly spider shall continue to live where it may.

The Dark Path

  Sometimes, it is a bit intimidating to walk down a dark path not knowing what may be lurking in the shadows.  Anything could be there.  Something evil may be waiting to pounce but, then again, something beautiful may be waiting to be discovered.  Facing our own fears can be quite daunting.  It is that unknown the pulls the creep factor up to the highest point and our minds refuse to temper it.  We cling to the sure and safe and rarely go down that dark path.  It is far too scary but. at the same time, our brains remind us of that "something beautiful" and the urge is real.

  I did not sleep well last night.  The body feels like some evil entity is trying to enter.  Thinking that a brisk walk in the night air might help, I headed out far before the sun rose in the east.  Things were dark, a bit creepy and, yes, daunting.  While on the pier, I was fine. Being over the water allows for a good bit of ambient light to surround you.  Plus, the pier gives some semblance of safety since there is only one entry point and anything clomping down those boards is easily heard.  Still, there was that uneasiness that lingered so I headed back up the hill.  Not wanting to go back to the Little Bayou House, my path veered to the right and around the marsh edge until it led to the woods.  Did I dare enter?  The path sure looked dark but I know this place as well as the back of my hand.  Yep.  I might as well push onward.  I might as well face those fears right up front.

 In this time of uncertainty, fear is playing a large factor in people's actions.  It is not fear that is going to get us through this chaos.  Commonsense is the best answer.  When it was put out there to hunker down and isolate from others, it was wise advice.  If everyone would use the logic behind this idea, the virus would soon die out for lack of hosts.  BUT....a lot of folks are lacking in the commonsense area.  Even here.  While I am a pro at this social distancing thing, others are not.  If the virus infects the Little Bayou House, it is because it was brought here not because I was out and about.  I am just going to go down that dark path and hunt for the beauty at the other end.  It is there...regardless of how many monsters I have to battle before finding it.  

  STAY HOME, folks!  Use commonsense!  Be strong.  Fight the urge to mingle because "I am strong and healthy".  Think of others.  If you want to play games with your health...so be it.  Don't inflict it upon everyone else.  Now...that said...pardon me while I become a hermitess for the next couple of weeks and search for something beautiful at the end of that dark path.  Do not come to the Bayou!

Oh, The Things People Believe!

  It is funny how many "old wives' tales" stick around and are believed by those who obviously cannot think for themselves.  The preposterous ideas remain steadfast and are defended vehemently.  One such idea popped into my head today as I was hiking to the pier with the old dog, Mr. PJ.  He has a liking for a certain grass that grows near the marsh edge so I have to sort of be on watch for snakes while he munches.  Since he is not a true "Bayou Dog", as of yet, he is a bit oblivious to snakes and just might graze his way right on top of one.  A nasty bite from a cottonmouth would surely do the old fellow in so I try to stay between the dog and the danger zone.   While he was eating, I noticed "Snake Spit" on most of the larger stalked plants that were popping up in the boggy soil.  With the sight of the white, foamy goop on the stems of the plants, my brain started sliding back in time when Mark and I first married.  The "Snake Spit" was ingrained in some of the family members' heads and they would immediately start sprinting from the area.  Regardless of my explanation of what the goo actually is, they still stuck with their belief of it actually being snake spit.  They were not open to any explanations and actually called me a few names that were not the nicest.  So, I quit trying to give any information.  Let folks believe the ridiculousness if they wish.  

  Snake Spit has nothing to do with snakes at all. The white foam is actually the product of a small bug called (of all things) a spittlebug.  This little critter that greatly resembles the leafhopper is the culprit that adorns the garden with the unsightly mess.  The mama spittlebug lays her eggs on the stalks of plants and when those eggs hatch, the little ones immediately start to suck the plant juices from the stalk.  While some is used for food, most is turned into that foamy mess.  This hides the nymph, keeps it from drying out and regulates the temperature around the nymph.  Since the nymph is so tiny, not too many predators will take a bite of the nasty tasting foam for a minuscule tidbit of a bug.

  My thoughts, today, were not really about that bug and its foamy home but were more about how forcefully some folks stick with their misguided ideas.  Never try to change these folks minds.  You will talk yourself blue in the face and still not convince them that what they have long believed is erroneous. With the spittlebugs and their "snake spit", this all comes from a deep seated fear of snakes.  The same folks who argued me down about the origin of the spittle are also the ones that think that every snake is "poisonous" and that snakes actually stalk people just to bite  them.  (Don't even try to explain the difference between poisonous and venomous...just don't.  It is a losing battle.)  Poor, misguided folks.  They do not realize how many amazing things they are missing because of fear.  Yep. even those spittle bugs are pretty amazing when you think about it.