Facing my fears #SOLC19

I’m just going to say this up front. I’m TERRIFIED of snakes. I have no idea where this fear came from. No bad experiences with them as a child. Never saw Snakes on a Plane. (As if!) Absolutely no clue where it stems from

When I worked in Uganda during the summer of 2010, I was petrified I’d run into one, two, three, or more. It was Africa, after all. I’d see snakes, right? During my three-week teaching trip I went gorilla trekking in the Virunga mountains on the border with the DRC, went chimp trekking on the Kasiisi Reserve, even walked alongside fields of tea that went on as far as the eye could see. Not one snake. Incredible!

So why, when we hike in the woods here in the northeast am I so terrified? It really is irrational. During yesterday’s weekly hike, I veered off the Battle Road trail that my husband is using to train for a long-distance hike and went into the woods by myself. He needed to clock a 20-mile walk, and I just wasn’t up for that. Instead, at the 5-mile mark, we parted company and I took the vernal pool trail (of course I did!) into the woods. By myself. All alone. Solo. Nobody with me. Yup. I did that. And guess what? Didn’t see a single snake in 45 minutes.

Now that I’ve written this, I will. Because that’s how it works. But I think I’m ready. Well, maybe.

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This post is part of the annual month-long Slice of Life writing challenge organized by Two Writing Teachers. Join us! It’s my third year of slicing in the challenge and I’m looking forward to writing and learning along with all of you.