Growing up, I always heard the "Seasoned" folks say you always want to keep your grass low because you never know if a snake is near. I didn't care why because I was a kid, and that was not my obligation to worry about the height of anyone else grass, let alone what was in it. I was trying to live my best life and see how I could get another $3.00 out of my parents so I could buy myself a bag of chips, pickles, juice, and some penny candy from the candy store in the neighborhood. Ironically although I'm not a person who looked for snakes growing up, I always dream about them when something is getting ready to happen to me or someone I know. I didn't have my first encounter with a snake until a few years ago while working in the middle of nowhere. The snake found its way up a flight of stairs and decided outside my office door was the place to be. I opened the door to run to the kitchen, and my soul almost left my body. The son of a biscuit eater was just "Electric Sliding" across the bottom of my door. I can't even fathom how long it was out there. I do know; I yelled, "Oh Shit," slammed the door, and called my boss. She was in disbelief, and she made her way up the stairs and saw the snake and said,' Oh Shit". The next thing you know, she grabbed a shovel to split the head, and baby, I about passed out. I tell you, ain't no way my black ass was about to split the head on not a damn thing because I barely can kill a spider. I was traumatized and knew I had to leave "Suddenly.", but how would I go without crossing the snake's potential half-dead self? I was faced with a fight or flee mindset, and I fled the scene. I jumped over that snake like Sonic and Tails and flew down those stairs. What if I waited for someone else to remove the snake before I left because half of the battle was one but not completely done? I had to figure out the rest.
Sightings in the Area
Many of us have snakes right around us, and we have no clue because we don't expect to have to look for them. The snakes are people we call friends, sis, bro, or hell, sometimes bae. They lay low for a time, slithering around us, waiting for the perfect opportunity to attack. The skin they shed leaves a trail behind, and the bite marks you hear about from others let you know they are in the vicinity. Know if they have bitten someone before they will do it again. The more dangerous they are, the worst their bite impacts you. The poison they inhibit is something that antivenom won't be able to help with, only God. Once they cross you, it puts you in a state of shock, and you either freeze up or get into survival mode. It's crucial that once you identify them that you keep your head on a swivel because if you are not careful, you will find yourself splitting their wig. Remember, the lower the grass, the easier it is to find their ass.
I challenge you to identify the snakes in your life, and if you are having trouble, ask God to show you the ones that have left some skin behind. Then, once you identify them, decide if you want to risk being bit or Get the Hell Away from them.
Are there snakes in your grass?
Do you need to keep your head on a swivel?
Can you handle the bite, or will your recovery take longer?