Don't remember many "wild" experiences with snakes when I was a kid...as an adult after moving to Houston, however... Our backyard butts up to a small body of water, so I've run into a few while mowing the lawn. Stepped on one in high grass and thought it was a log until it slithered away! Lucky for me it wasn't a water moccasin...our dog "found" a baby water moccasin a few years ago but fortunately had the where-withal to leave it alone. Cute little bugger putting on a tough-guy act! It did the trick, though, the dog and I took off in the opposite direction!

My absolute worst experience with a snake happened shortly after we moved into our house...I was mowing the lawn (again). I was weed-wacking along the edge of the house and accidentally hit a small (garter?) snake...I was devastated! It was probably the first time I had held/seen a snake up close and I was just mesmerized. Not too long after that, a fellow co-worker brought his normal BP to the clinic and it was love at first sight! That marked the beginning of the obsession...