Before 40: June 2

Would you believe that I forgot I did two "Before 40" things in June!  That fact is even more shocking when I tell you what I did.  Maybe I blocked it from my memory since it was so traumatic.

For as long as I can remember, I have been completely terrified of snakes.  I remember going to a friend's house in junior high and there was a tiny little garter snake on her walkway.  I screamed so loud her mom almost called 911.  I remember taking a class of preschool kids on a field trip to the zoo, and all of them asking why I was standing so far away from the snakes.  I remember taking Dylan to a zoo class, and when the zoo lady pulled out a snake, sitting there shaking, trying not to let Dylan and the other kids see my fear.

I wanted to conquer my fear.  So, one day when we were on our way home from a birthday party, we drove past a pet store.  This wasn't a normal pet store, with sweet little puppies and kittens.  It is an "exotic" pet store, and I knew what that meant.  On a complete whim, I told Jim to pull in.

I explained to the worker that I was trying to conquer my fear of snakes, and she brought out "something small" - a corn snake.  She let me take it slow... first she held it and I stood MUCH closer than I am comfortable standing to a snake.  Then, I touched the back half, avoiding the head.  Eventually, she let me hold it.  At this point, every fiber of my being was screaming "RUN AWAY!  RUN AWAY!", but there I stood, watching a snake slither up my arm.  When its head starting going up pretty far, and it started sticking its tongue out, I finally had to bow out.

I will say that when you see the pictures, I look very calm.  Apparently my body goes into shock and outwardly I appear calm and still, but inside I am FREAKING OUT.  Oh, and I didn't breathe the entire time.  It's a miracle I didn't pass out.  I also realized afterwards, that while holding the snake I had absolutely no idea what Jim and Dylan were doing.  Dylan could have been climbing into the king cobra's cage and Jim could have been making out with the owner.  I wouldn't have known.  I was completely focused on that darn snake.  I conquered my fear.  But, if I go past a garter snake and scream like a little girl... don't hold it against me.