So...
I'm kind of into nature.
I like being outdoors and camping and hiking and the like.
What I don't like is when nature turns against me.
When it turns against me with no provocation whatsoever!
Lets call it "When Nature Attacks."
For example: Today I was happily taking a walk with the toddler when this happens:
I step in a giant fire ant hill.
Unfortunately, I don't notice I've stepped in it until I start feeling...
a little...
a little more...
a lot...
SOMETHING PAINFUL.
I look down and of course there are fire ants all over me.
The bad thing was is I was talking to someone on the phone at the time and they were telling me a serious story so I had to act like nothing was wrong.
SO, you can go on and imagine tears streaming down my face as I hop around with the phone to my ear while I try to speak sympathetically to the person on the other end of the phone.
It was quite a feat actually.
Go me.
So because I like nature I did Outward Bound in college:
That's me and my gear hiking all over Montana looking out for bears.
I was also a counselor at a Pine Hill for a couple years.
Now it's called Pine Ridge.
I had a "When Nature Attacks" episode with this group one year.
We were happily canoeing down a river when...
A SNAKE FELL INTO THE CANOE IN FRONT OF ME.
The canoe had two boys in it at the time.
Somehow they didn't see the snake fall in.
The last thing I wanted was for them to start swinging paddles at the snake so I just said:
"Boys! Jump in the water right now!"
At first they said "Why?" but then I think the force of my voice made them jump in.
Once they swam over to my canoe I said "Well, there is a snake in your canoe."
It was like something you see in the movies - kids screaming, chaos, etc...
Thank goodness the uber masculine canoe counselor rounded the bend about that time.
He was able to relocate the snake with no problem.
I loved this group.
Snakes and all.
We just don't want them in our boat.
Later in the summer we came upon two snakes...mating.
It was enlightening.
And it looked painful.
I loved summer camp so much that we are going to Family Camp in July.
It's going to be blogworthy I'm sure.
I'm scared.
You know what wasn't a "When a Nature Attacks" episode?
This dog in Indian creek: