We'd been watching his shows for years by the time he died. Like Michael Jackson, I still can't believe he's really gone, after the suddenness of both their deaths.
Nearly 40 years because it was only a few months ago when I discovered that snakes also eat f/t. It was the notion of feeding a live critter (I love all critters, and we've also had rats as much-loved family pets) that kept me from getting a snake of my own. Like others posting in this thread, I'm the one who's always asking to hold whatever snake was around. It's neat to finally have my own. And, yes, both our girls are already unafraid of snakes. With a mother like me, they couldn't possibly grow up to be afraid of any animals, kinda like Steve Irwin's kids, LOL!