I work in a building of 800+ people, and anytime I'm introduced to someone new, I am introduced as my parents' child (they worked here before) or 'She's the one so and so was talking about that has all the snakes!'. My Manager and coworkers are constantly asking how the snakes are doing, or if I'm "expecting" this week. Haha. I have to people on my team that are petrified of snakes... and I've gotten both of them to touch one (one was actually shaky and getting teary eyed.. but still touched the snake, and got to tell her family she actually did so)! Even though they are 'grossed out' and frightened by snakes, they respect them more after talking to me, and can still appreciate the amazing colors and patterns they come in.

So I get called 'the snake lady' a lot, but it isn't usually negative. When people ask if I'm scared or afraid of being bit, I explain that it doesn't usually hurt much when they do, and I rarely ever get bit - I'm more concerned with getting peed or pooed on. When asked if I'm afraid they'll eat my cats, I explain that only one of the snakes we have is potentially large enough to eat one of my cats.. and he's terrified of her. If the cat is too close, he takes off the other direction. People thing it's interesting that a 'big scary snake' is terrified of a little 5 lbs petite siamese kitty