Sorrow. [Need shoulders to cry on]

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Originally Posted by angllady2

Goodness! I hope you don't take it personally, but you had awful parents!

How cruel of them to do that to you. No wonder you are a mess now with Alice gone.

And I know exactly how you feel. You can't simply stop worrying, that's impossible. He's your baby for crying out loud. Would they tell a parent who had lost a child to stop worrying ? I think not!

The only comfort I can offer you is, you are not alone in this. I feel for you so much, he might as well be my snake. I spent an hour last night making each one of mine promise me they would never do something like this, I couldn't handle it. And by the way, Yakul my hyper sensitive pied boy, told me to tell you he's sorry and he hopes Alice comes home soon. I upset him so badly telling him your story, he didn't want to eat last night.

So, together we will wait, together we will hope, together we will cry a little now and then, and together we will celebrate like we won the world series when he comes home. :blowkiss:

Gale

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Please don't upset your Pied!
I hope he eats tonight....:(

That's just a tiny glimpse of my folks.

There's more and it's much worse.

But I have to love them...they're my family.

[at least I learned to practice the loyalty they preached]

Thanks Gale.

You're my rock in this storm.

[and tell Yakul to eat!!!]

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Originally Posted by WingedWolfPsion

It's true, sometimes snakes do inexplicable things. I had a garter snake get into the basement, and I wasn't able to catch it (it darted under the washer, and then disappeared). A few days later, as I was sitting on the couch, I caught a movement out of the corner of my eye, and looked up. The garter snake had glided up over a box, and was sitting there in plain view, staring at me. It allowed me to pick it up gently with little fuss--I released it outside and snapped a few photos. It was perfectly healthy, and took off quickly once released. I didn't even get musked on that time, lol.

What possessed a wild animal to approach me openly in that fashion? To overcome all of its instincts and allow me to see it, and then pick it up?

It wasn't the first time. An escaped baby mourning gecko approached my husband the same way--it actually climbed onto the arm of the couch where he was resting his elbow!

He will come back when realizes that he needs your help.

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In hindsight, I should've picked up the black 'ankle snake' and kept him as a 'replacement'.

Obviously, he had no problems with hanging out with me for a while.

:)

[usually the wild things that come to me are either very wounded or dying...most of the time, I can get them better and they go free...sometimes, they just get a warm place to pass away with somebody who grieves for them...maybe that's all they wanted]

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Originally Posted by Salamander

My caring switch is broken.
It's permanently "on".

I've tried to be stoic/indifferent/patient/"zen"/existential/concerned but not terrified/hopeful/confident/etc etc etc.

I'm sorry but I can't be what I'm not.

I care.
I love.
I worry.

Ii can't really control any of that and will not feel at peace until I know where he is, one way or the other.

It's just how I'm built.

Perhaps a little 'back story' will explain me better;

When I was a kid, my dad always had dogs.
Naturally, I'd love the dogs and he'd tell me that so-and-so was 'my dog'.

Then we'd go away on vacation and when we got back, the dog would be gone.
He'd say "maybe it ran away' or 'somebody must've stolen him'.

Come to find out, years later, he was having people who'd bought those hunting dogs come get them while we were gone so as not to have me 'make a scene' over 'my dog' being taken away.

The worst time involved a Husky named Wolfie.
I was around 5 or so and loved that dog madly and we played together all the time.
Yes, I came back from VA Beach and he was gone...house, bowl, toys and all.
"Stolen".

As always, I searched and searched for him, just like all the others and one day my mom and I were downtown and there was Wolfie, tied to a lamp post!

I squealed with joy and he howled with delight.
We'd found each other again!

I will never forget my mom dragging me, screaming and crying, away from him as he shrieked his frustration of the leash that kept him from following me, she, telling me "that's not Wolfie!".
[like I didn't know him and he didn't know me]

He too had been given away while I was gone.

I have severe 'issues' with 'missing pets' and this is the first time in my adult life that I've truly had one be 'missing'...and I know for sure he was not stolen or given away but my drive to search endlessly is apparently still as strong as ever.

All of the above is what makes me so obsessive about all of my pets.

I worry that if I blink or turn away, they could be "gone".

Parents can deeply scar their kids, believing that they're 'doing them a kindness'.

I cringe when I hear a parent tell a kid their hamster or dog 'went to a beautiful farm in Vermont" instead of telling them the hard but infinitely kinder truth.

:(


I'm a really 'damaged' person, as far as my animals go but I can't go back and avert the damage done to me so I have to deal with it as best I can.

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I'm sorry you had to endure that.

I do believe in fate, and I honestly believe that experiences help mold us into the people we were made to be. I think your those experiences made you into the heavily caring person you were made to be. So really damaged is not how you should see it ;)

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Originally Posted by Salamander

In hindsight, I should've picked up the black 'ankle snake' and kept him as a 'replacement'.

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Nah. Perhaps he was happy to spend time with you, because he felt that you wouldn't. He obviously enjoys living in your home, and helping control your rodent issue, lol.

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Originally Posted by Poseidon

I'm sorry you had to endure that.

I do believe in fate, and I honestly believe that experiences help mold us into the people we were made to be. I think your those experiences made you into the heavily caring person you were made to be. So really damaged is not how you should see it ;)

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I wouldn't trade 'who I am' for anything in the world.
I like being me, 'crazy critter lady' and all.

:)

[if not for all the crap I endured, I wouldn't be as empathetic as I am and that's usually good thing]

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Originally Posted by WingedWolfPsion

Nah. Perhaps he was happy to spend time with you, because he felt that you wouldn't. He obviously enjoys living in your home, and helping control your rodent issue, lol.

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Well, I have to admit that I did "warn him" about the neighbor and ask him to kindly stay here rather than wandering about.

The neighbor weed-whacks every snake he sees.

[but has promised to try and catch Alice if he comes across him]

It was still pretty freaky to have a wild snake coiled around my ankles.
He was twining about them, much like a cat, until he settled onto my feet.

He is so beautiful....all sleek, graceful and shiny with such an elegant, whip-like tail.

[I've named him "Slinky" whether he knows it or not]

:D

I'm kinda jealous. I'm not really sure on the pets talking back, and maybe that is why they don't. I do know there are thinks we can't explain. I talk to mine all the time though, even without responses. So in a way I guess I am even more crazy.... I still believe he will come back to you some day! Try not to stress too much and give him time.

You know love, I had an idea last night.

If your friend the ratsnake comes back, tell him about Alice running away, and ask him to keep an eye out for him. If you can't find Alice, maybe another snake can. :weirdface

Gale

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Originally Posted by angllady2

You know love, I had an idea last night.

If your friend the ratsnake comes back, tell him about Alice running away, and ask him to keep an eye out for him. If you can't find Alice, maybe another snake can. :weirdface

Gale

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Actually, I did do that.

And he's BACK!