Too Close for Comfort???

A few posts ago, I wrote about my progress turning my backyard into a virtual aviary. My wife and I sit in our lanai in the morning, drink some coffee, and watch the various birds feed to their hearts content. Those of you who follow this blog know how much I love and respect Nature.

Last week, I relocated three nonvenomous snakes enjoying our yard. Two were Southern Ribbon snakes, and one was a Garter snake. All three were harmless, although all snakes bite and infection can set in rather quickly, if the wounds are not tended to immediately.

Yesterday, this little beauty (shown above) joined the fun. This Cottonmouth was not easily relocated. Had the dogs not sounded the alarm, no one would have noticed the unfriendly serpent. He was venomous, indeed. In fact, the venom was dripping from his fangs.

Now, here is the ongoing debate. My friends, neighbors, and family members are always in favor of eliminating venomous snakes. I prefer relocation into the wild. I don't mess with Nature, so if necessary, I would call Animal Control. However, killing a snake for being a snake does not sit right with me.

What exactly would you do?

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A Simple Dream

A Simple Dream

I definitely do not mean a dream in the sense of imagined thoughts while I sleep. I mean more of a wish. I have always had a conscious desire to achieve a goal that has eluded me my entire life. Maybe, being a Hemingway fan has infiltrated my psyche.

Imagine, as I do often, being alone on a remote island somewhere on the planet, fishing, and breaking a world record. As the avid fisherman I am, breaking a world record would give me a great deal of satisfaction.

Yet, my dream is a little different. It certainly differs from Hemingway’s vision. I want to be alone when I break the record, and I don’t want to simply break the record, but smash it for all time. After a tremendous battle, I want to land the monster fish on the shoreline.

And here is the catch: I would let it go, with no proof of ever having seen it. I would say that’s pretty simple.

 

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