Grandma Warriors Over Snakes and Other Creepy Things

My niece is a friend to all species of the buzzing variety.  When we play cards, she cringes when I heartlessly squish any flying thing that makes its way onto the table.  Don't think badly of me; I am a discriminating bug killer.  I would never harm butterflies, lightning or lady bugs, praying mantises, granddaddy-long-legs, or bumble bees.  But--beware, all other six, eight, or multi-legged crawling or flying creatures.  Be afraid..be very afraid!

I recently had a flashback of my mom stomping across the bed, all the while swinging a rolled up newspaper in hot pursuit of a mosquito flying near the bedroom ceiling.  During the 1950's and 60's in the south, we did not have the luxury of air conditioning.  In summer, doors and windows were flung wide, window fans hummed, doing little more than stir hot air.   As kids running in and out of the house, our parents didn't say, "Close that door, you're letting the heat in!"  Instead, we heard, "Close the screen door, you're letting the flies in!"  Needless to say, every southern mama was deadly with a fly swatter...an art I've never quite mastered. While I don't miss the whiz of the flyswatter, I do kind of miss the summer sound of the squeaking spring and slapping thud of a screen door closing. 

My best friend recently encountered a large black snake reclining on a shelf on her carport.   Although he was only a few inches from her face, she calmly left him to go his merry way.  She says black snakes and king snakes do a great job keeping down the rodent population, and she's probably right.  Another friend recently discovered a black snake curled up between her storm door and front door.  She, however, shares my sentiments concerning snakes.  He is no longer with us. 

Snake Warrior Grandma Laura

When I was a child, I tagged along with my mom and my tiny 4' 11" grandmother down a path near our house in the country to pick blackberries.  We were picking away when my grandmother leaned down and saw a snake coiled on the ground below.  Was she content to vacate the premises and leave him to his blackberries?  No, she stood her ground, sending my mom and me running back to the house for a hoe.  She brandished that hoe like a Samurai warrior, and proceeded to kill the snake.....many times over!  

Was the snake poisonous?  I don't know, nor do I care.  In my eyes, the only "good" snake is a "dead" snake.  I wish I were brave like my grandmother.  Sadly, I have not lived up to the first name we share.  Should a snake be so unfortunate to cross my path, I will not check to see his coloration, or the shape of his head.  I will run for my husband, and then the hoe!  And so it should be...

Genesis 3:14-15:  "The LORD God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” 

Copyright 2015 Laney's Musings