my fear, in focus
There aren’t many things in this world I’m actually afraid of. Spiders don’t bother me, small spaces are cozy, storms are exciting, the dark just puts me to sleep, and flying is fun. Public speaking is, well, okay, I don’t really like public speaking. I don’t fear mice, or dogs, or insects, frogs, elevators, heights, being alone or being in a crowd. You get the idea. The things that scare many people don’t scare me. Except one thing.
Image credit: Library of Congress
When I was a little kid I would lay in bed with my arms tucked in as tight as could be. I was afraid that if my hand hung over the bed that snakes would get me. Seriously. I was convinced there were snakes living under the bed, in the toilet, the the trees, in the basement, in the garage, under the shed, etc. I lived in Maine people. There are barely any snakes in Maine, and certainly no poisonous ones.
Even as a grown-up I still hate snakes. I don’t have nightmares anymore but there is no way on earth I would ever willingly touch one, or even be in a room with one. When we lived in Virgina there was a nasty big black snake that lived under our front steps. I found out when I found a freshly shed skin on the walk one morning. I freaked. The neighbor said that there was one under every porch on the block and to leave it alone - it was good because it ate mice. I said that’s why I have a cat. I desperately wanted to move. And we did just a few months later. Heh, if you ask my husband we moved for a job, if you ask me, we moved to get away from the snake.
Anyway. All this just to say, guess what I’m working on right now? Yeah. A book about snakes. You know what my job is by now right? I’m a photo editor. I get the photos for the book. Yeah. Lots and lots of pictures of snakes. Images of snakes hissing, and slithering, and birthing, showing fangs, and hatching, and eating, and squeezing and…oh my god. Images that are now burned into my brain. Let me tell you something right now, me looking for pictures of ‘pythons constricting large animals’ right before bed, is not a good idea.
PS. I need a slap on the hand for not keep you all up to date on the goings on at ChapterBytes. We have two new chapters up, Chapter 17 written by Karen, and Chapter 18 by B. This story is really moving along and I’m so impressed with the writers! Would you like to write a chapter but you’re being shy about it? Send me an email, let’s talk! catnip35 at gmail dot com.
Comments
9 Responses to “my fear, in focus”
Ugh… SNAKES!! NOOO!!!
Missives From Suburbias last blog post..Off the Top of My Suburban Head
UGH! Shivers just from the picture! I lost a lot of street cred with my kindergarteners whenever the reptile freaks came to visit. I’d be in the back of the room as far from the snakes as possible. I still check the bottom of my bed sometimes to make sure there aren’t any hiding down there, especially since we live on a river.
Mary Beth (Cats, Books, Life is Good)s last blog post..
Sorry about your aversion to snakes. It must make your current project really wretched. Did somebody scare you with one of those snakes that pops out of a screw-top can when you were little? Or is it genetic, too… like the packrat gene?
sometimessophias last blog post..A Seaside Sonnet for Writer’s Workshop
I’m with you on the snake thing. Sounds like your job is making you face our fear! (I like how you moved to get away from a snake).
Joannes last blog post..All Aboard
I don’t like snakes either.
I also wanted to let you know that I finally clicked over to ChapterBytes about 2 weeks ago and am LOVING this story! What a great project!!
T with Honeys last blog post..In which I remember that I do in fact have a blog
How horrifying for you! Sending my sympathies. (Though, honestly? Sounds like a super cool job to me, even despite the snakes. :)
MommyTimes last blog post..They Take My Breath Away
Spiders? Ick, but squishable. Snakes - hell, no! Hope this is one project that goes VERY quickly for you!
When I was a kid, I always had dreams about snakes being under the bed or on the floor in my room. I’d wake up terrified to leave the bed.
In fact, I still have those nightmares. I have a friend who keeps telling me that I need to embrace the snakes in my dreams, that they are symbols of growth, change, and transformation.
Uh, yeah. Still working on that.
jo(e)s last blog post..Dipped in hot sauce
I love hearing stories about snakes and those that fear snakes but snakes are harmless unless venomous or constrictors. They will just get away from humans as fast as possibly usually; if not then have fear.