The original plan was that just my family would go to Gatorland. If
Nick H. wanted to come, we could bring him. I didn't think Joanne
would be up for this at all. We went last time we were in Florida and
loved it...it's a must visit if ever you go. It's a great break from the
pace that is set in a theme park. It's a nature preserve, so it's quiet
and uncrowded and a lot of fun! Being surrounded by 3000 gators is
not really all that horrifying even for someone who does NOT like
reptiles, like me. It's kind of neat to see. My favorite part is all the big
beautiful birds everywhere.
I HATE SNAKES. I fear them, I do not trust them, I fail to see their
grand purpose. Because I had spent the last week being a dare
devil, riding all of the rides (actually I was able to do this because I
was not out looking for a place to smoke)...I said to myself, "Self, why
not try and hold one of those big snakes?" Self thought this was a
GREAT idea seeing as I am no stranger to looking fear in the face
and laughing.

So, I pay the 5 bucks. Yep, I paid the 5 bucks and was asked which
of the critters I would like to hold. My choices were a parrot or Satan
(not his real name, by the way).

"That", I said, pointing to an 8 foot yellow Burmese python. I shudder
as I type this {{shudder}}

"What?" Gatorland Guy says, hereforthwith known as Ass.

"The snake" (Duh, did you NOT see me pointing??)

So, I sit down and Ass puts the snake on me. {{shudder}}. "Oh my
God" I exclaim as I get my first seconds of it's cold heavy body
around my naked neck. "Oh my GOD" I exclaim as the thought of
what I'm doing sinks deeper in.

"Take the picture. Take the picture. TakethePICTURE!!"
Two seconds later, Satan decides to explore the world beyond my
hand. And his 8 foot long body {{shudder}} starts {{{shudddder}}}}
moving it's muscles and starts {{{i'm gonna puke}}}} slithering around
my naked neck and his movement catches up with his head and he
starts taking off.

"Oh my GOD. Get it off. GET IT OFFF!!! OH MY GOD GET IT
OOOOOFFFFFF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
So the man, previously known as Gatorland Guy, now known as ASS
comes over to me as I'm trying to lift this thing off of my neck and he
starts PILING IT BACK ON. You'd think someone was being
murdered at the decibel I reached at this point. GET IT
OOOOOOFFFFFF!!!!!

So the moral of the story is, if you are afraid of something, it's
probably justified. And holding a snake serves no purpose.
This part of Gatorland is my favorite. There are birds everywhere
and it's so darn peaceful and beautiful. It's just such a nice change to
what we had so far done.
We watched these two build a
nest together. So cool!