Article from Barbara Kasey Smith’s Corner of the World:
Are you a careful and an observant person? Several years ago I was traveling to Florida for a much needed vacation; and I stopped at a gas station to gas up and to make a trip to the restroom. I stepped into an ancient restroom and for some unknown reason I happened to look up at the ceiling above the toilet and when I did, I saw this huge snake’s head hanging about three inches out of a hole in the ceiling.
Truth is, I don’t know how I got out of that bathroom but when I came to myself I was sitting in the car rubbing my arms and scared to death; and to this day I have vivid memories of my experience. I cannot imagine what would have happened to me had the snake slid out of the hole and unto my back. Believe me I know they would have had to call a rescue ambulance to care for me because I’m deathly afraid of snakes.
This taught me a valuable lesson that I’d like to pass on to people hoping it’ll protect you as well as your children; it’s important whenever you step inside a shed, outside toilet, motel room, gas station restroom, etc., be sure to scan every inch of the place for prey that maybe hiding in the room. You may ask, “Why would I check in a motel room;” many times the owners of older motels leave the doors open during the day for the purpose of airing the rooms out and this is an ideal place for a snake or a wild animal to roam in and be lurking inside.
I read an article where a python was reportedly found in a motel room in Florida when a couple stopped for an overnight stay. Who would have ever thought they would find a huge snake in a motel room? Snakes can get between small cracks in doorways of motel rooms, sheds, outhouses, etc.; and in the majority of older motels a person can actually stick their finger through the crack of the main door to the room.
People who travel with small children should be particularly cautious to do a complete survey of an area before allowing their children to go inside. This just might prevent them from getting bit by a rapid animal or a poisonous snake. I had never thought about this until my experience in the gas station restroom but I’m sure aware of areas now before I step inside.
I’ll never forget the time when I was a small child my Mother sent me to the hen house to collect the eggs and there was a huge black snake sucking a hen’s egg in the hen house. Mother’s mystery as to why she wasn’t getting as many eggs was answered when I told her what had happened. She had suspected it was a snake but she had never seen one until that day.
Tip: It’s wise to check foreign places before getting comfortable in a space.
Barbara Kasey Smith is the writer of this article – Copyright 2016 – Use by Permission Only.