Life's little moments

• Feb. 24, 2007 - Nerves

Eight years ago we had just moved from lush and moderate Western Washington to the more extreme Eastern Washington ( I thoroughly enjoy both climates).  My husband, being raised in the ultra extreme Arizona, was thrilled to introduce his children to the intricacies of desert life.  Under the cover of safety he decided that we all needed to get to know the rattlesnake.  In Arizona it is really not that unusual to come across one and it is good to know what they are and how to treat them. However, in Eastern Washington the danger is much milder.  There are rattlesnakes there though, and with that in mind we went in search of the wicked reptile.  We all joined in the big adventure, and when we finally found one sunbathing on a back road we gathered around to learn.  First, James explained the danger, pointed out the coloring etc. and then he got the poor thing worked up until it finally rattled so we could all know the sound and would be fully prepared to freak out if ever we heard it.  After the game of "know your reptile" was over he thoughtfully killed the snake.  However, probably missing his homeland, he decided that he really couldn't leave such a nice specimen on the road, so we took it with us.  He was planning on skinning it and curing the skin so we could have a lasting souvenier of our family learning day.  Before he deposited the now dead snake on the passenger side floor mat, he cut its head off.  Now it is an interesting fact about snakes that although they are obviously dead and their heads are cut off, they can still move around.  Off we go to the store to gather the ingredients to his childhood tanning concoction, me, the brave wife, sitting with feet curled up on the seat keeping careful watch over the headless, dead, squirming, bleeding creature. James went into the store leaving the old and rusted Suburban filled with children leaning over my shoulder and watching with morbid fascination as the snake wound its way around the floor.  After a while my girls started asking questions. "Mom, why does the snake still move even though its head is off?  Is it still alive?" Being the good homeschool mom that I am, I quickly and distractedly (being somewhat immersed myself in this disgusting spectacle) answered, "I don't know, it has something to do with its nerves, but it is dead" (meaning "please don't make me take my eyes and mind off of this thing, just in case.") To which my then 7 year old daughter Kalisha pronounced in her sweet high pitched voice and with great insight " I know, it probably gets on its nerves that its head is cut off." Come to think of it, it just might get on my nerves too.

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