I’ve told this story before but one day when Addie was probably 5 or maybe 6, she and I were driving down the road and she wanted me to do something and I said “No, I’m afraid to do that.” I can’t even remember what it was but it seems like it was something that I shouldn’t do in the car.
She said “Granny, are you scared of everything?” I said “Did your dad say that?” Yep. He did. Truly, I am afraid of everything. I always have been a big chicken.
Yesterday Nicole called and was telling me a story that during the night a few nights ago, someone hit a telephone or utility pole just in the back of my apartment. I think it was actually across the street. It took the pole down and the police and ambulance were there. Nicole said “Chad said . . if Granny would have been there, it would have scared her to death!” Probably not though. Depending on what time it happened, I might not have even heard it or if I had, since it was an accident . . I doubt I would have been scared.
But, yesterday, I scared the heck out of myself. If I’m in the grass, I’m always watching my feet because of snakes. Vince has a tendency to strip down and throw his clothes across the clothesline when he’s been out in the public. He had gone to town Tuesday and then yesterday afternoon, he cut the grass. One of his black socks had fallen off the clothesline, he ran over it with mower and it was kinda shredded and was on the walkway. I went out just a bit before dusk to close the garden gate. I was wearing flip flops and I was looking up at the clouds because I was on the walkway that’s limestone. I still should have been watching my feet. Something got caught between my toes and my flip flop. I looked down, still walking, and this black “tail” was flopping around under my foot. I screamed, slung my shoe off . . and realized it was a piece of black fabric which I later learned was Vince’s shredded sock.
Then I had to hobble across the limestone to get to my shoe that was halfway across the driveway!
Today I’ll watch my feet everywhere I go!
donna says
I prefer to think of it as “very careful”, but truthfully I’m a scaredy cat too.
Linda in NE says
My youngest grandson was always so safety conscious. By the time he could talk it was always “Is that safe?” or “That not look safe”. Kind of cute coming from a kid that can barely talk. I think he’s outgrown that a bit now, all he wants is speed. That’s all his sister ever wanted! LOL She’s always been the daredevil.
Susan Nixon says
I wouldn’t call that being a scaredy cat either. I’d call it being cautious and staying safe. But I can see how you would, in a quick glance have thought there was a snake in your shoe!
Jocelyn says
You made me laugh! Mostly because I am a scaredy cat too. I would have freaked out if something had caught in my shoe. Not paying attention. At dusk. It would have taken five years off of me. And I don’t have that many left to lose 😉
Nelle Coursey says
Sorry but I had to laugh at that one!! Glad it was just a sock though.
Judy Laquidara says
I laughed too after I realized what it was.
Liz says
Funny snake story – one time when my mom was visiting me in the summer, we were in and out of the back yard so the door would be be open,especially since Mom didn’t always close it tight. She was in the half-bath near the back door area when she screamed!!!!
It seems like a small (6 in), pencil thin garden snake somehow made it into the bathroom. Mom thought it was a twig until she tried to pick it up to throw it away. I got it out without a problem,well after my heart calmed down since I thought the worst when Mom screamed.
Another time, I found a similar small snake in my quilt room – I figured that it came from a plant with an attached saucer that I had recently brought into the house. I don’t bring plants in anymore – they might go into the garage, but not the house!
Now, I am only nervous around the water snakes at the sailing club due to an incident at another sailing club in Missouri – I was sailing my small boat into the “harbor” which was really a small dredged inlet off the Mississippi River. This large snake started swimming towards my boat, thinking it was a warm place to get on. It was the fastest that I ever got off the boat and then the boat on the trailer. I never fell into the Mississippi since I could not see one inch deep due to the muddiness. I have a picture of me from a St. Louis Press photographer at the very edge of my boat – a delicate balancing act since I didn’t want to fall in the river.
We all have memories that return when someone else mentions a similar event. Now, let’s talk about spiders!