My daughter Allie loves being outdoors. However, she was blessed with parents who are not outdoorsy. Whatsoever. No doubt about it. We are not one with nature. But we try. We really try for her sake.
In order to make up for our shortcomings, we decided to take her fishing today at a local lake. We didn’t really plan to catch fish, as much as we just planned to go soak up the atmosphere and go through the notions of fishing. So we purchased a cute little Dora fishing pole and other goods and headed on down.
Allie was game for this trip before it even began. After all, she had already told many an imaginary story about all of the loot she racked up from past imaginary fishing trips.
Upon arrival, there were two trails you could take at the spot we went picked that led to the lake. So we chose a path and started walking down.
(This is where I interject to tell you how terrified I am of the possibility of even seeing a snake. So as soon as I enter any sort of ground area that is not concrete, asphalt, etc. I immediately begin to scan for the slithery little creatures. Immediately.)
Adam led the way while I followed behind holding Allie’s hand. When we were fully immersed in the woods Allie was fascinated and I was somewhat terrified. Not long after our entrance, Adam stops and pauses. He had heard what he thought was a snake.
Then, about a foot in front of him, a snake, peppered with black and yellow, sprang up from its hiding place.
I grabbed Allie, slung her over my shoulder, and ran like hell.
Fast and like hell.
I never truly understood what it meant to run like hell until I undertook such a task today. But if you’ve ever ran in such a manner, you know what I mean.
