Rattlesnakes!

I had a close encounter with a rattlesnake this week.  It was actually one of the scariest situations I've ever found myself in, but since I rarely go anywhere without my camera these days, lest I miss some golden photo op, I have the photo to prove my close call with calamity.  Never wanted to have that experience, and now that I've had it, I hope I never do again.  Miraculously, there was a sister missionary nearby in an atv who came to my rescue as I was out in a field and afraid to go forward, backward or sideways, lest I run into another snake while trying to escape the one who was a foot or two away from me.  There are many rattlers in the area, but this encounter was way to close for comfort.  When others heard about it the story got bigger and better each time I told it!  It even went well with some music that we were rehearsing in band practice, and before you know it a new song was born!

 

When Rattlesnakes Came to Play

                           (sung to the tune of Grandma’s Feather Bed)

     July 2012 – Mormon Handcart Historic Sites in WY 

When I was older n’ dirt, lovin’ my rockin’ chair, 

It felt like time to serve the Lord, lookin’ fer adventure thru prayer.
So I took my love, I took my “box”, and headed where the antelope play. 
Had adventures a plenty until one day – when rattlesnakes came to play.

 Chorus:

He was 20 feet long and 5 feet high, coiled up and ready to strike.
Head dartin’ forward, tongue shootin’ out, just beggin’ me to come out n’ fight
It’s rattlers rattlin’, he’s callin’ his friends – “live ones here in our space”,
Almost died on the plains by Sweetwater crossin’ – when rattlesnakes came to play.

Well I love the Cove, I love Veil Bridge, love Handcart Parkin’ too, but I never will forget the Footbridge day – when rattlesnakes came to play.
I was walkin’ off the trail, walkin’ in sage, walkin’ where nobody goes
Walkin’ where only dirt and bunnies are – and rattlesnakes come to play. 

 Chorus:

He was 20 feet long and 5 feet high, coiled up and ready to strike.
Head dartin’ forward, tongue shootin’ out, just beggin’ me to come out n’ fight
It’s rattlers rattlin’, he’s callin’ his friends – “live ones here in our space”,
Almost died on the plains by Sweetwater crossin’ – when rattlesnakes came to play.

They were waitin’ for missionaries, innocent & dumb, city slickers workin’ for the Lord.

But we ain’t really dumb, we have hidden help, and rescuers are part of the plan…
There was Sister Starr, off-road rover drivin’ – buffalo meat hangin’ on the side
She swooped right in and layed him low, no more rattlesnakes out to play.

 Chorus:

He was 20 feet long and 5 feet high, coiled up and ready to strike.
Head dartin’ forward, tongue shootin’ out, just beggin’ me to come out n’ fight
It’s rattlers rattlin’, he’s callin’ his friends – “live ones here in our space”,
Almost died on the plains by Sweetwater crossin’ – when rattlesnakes came to play.