That is so exciting! I also have a husband who was raised to perceive snakes as a dangerous animal to be avoided at all costs. He was not thrilled at all when I told him I wanted a ball python, well more like insisted that I was getting one actually. He had no intention of getting anywhere near and it was to be my snake and my problem. My little pastel won him over pretty fast though. He isn't nervous around him at all anymore and even greets him when he comes home after work, since I am usually handling him around that time. Last night I brought Shesha over to say good night before going to his enclosure for the evening and he actually smiled, held out his hand for him to rest his chin on and told him "good night buddy". I was unusally thrilled too, so I totally get where you are coming from.
You know, I have had multiple people come around and want to make friends after just seeing me handle him for a while. One of them was even so afraid of snakes that she wouldn't cross the room the first time she came to the house. He happened to be out because I hadn't realized she would be accompanying the expected guest. The third time she saw him she asked to touch him, and even held him, and her response was the exact same, "he's actually pretty cool!" She is quite fond of him too now. They really are addictive! :P