| It was at this point that I became aware that I had been feeling strange. This feeling awakened in me the understanding that a find was going to be made at the site by someone. I looked at Dwight and felt for sure it was going to be him. He was in a prime location and had the right idea. I realized that I had to change tactics again. The time was 10:01. |
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As he was literally on top of the rock piles searching, I realized that looking along the edge of the piles might be productive as well. I looked ahead and noticed that the sun was hitting the rocks just right. I noted the stands of grasses and weeds along the edges of the piles and it dawned on me to search this edge type of transitional micro-habitat. My next thought addressed where I should start. The time was 10:02 when I looked down at my feet and saw a pine snake in excess of five feet long! It took my breath away!
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For what seemed like a full minute, but was probably less than one second I gazed at the snake. It was in dappled sunlight in a loose and sprawling type of pose. There were weeds hanging over her body. I could not believe what I was looking at! It was a beautiful sight to behold! |
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After that moment I seem to have lost all sense of time and space. Dwight later told me that he turned to look at me and saw me staring with the utmost intent. He said I cast my hook downward and behind myself and then dove to the ground. When I came back up I was holding a pine snake! |
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| I began to yell and jump around like a mad-man! Dwight came over and secured the snake while I continued to freak out for some time. When I came to I saw that Dwight was taking pictures. I got my camera and gave it my best effort, but as you can imagine I was still violently shaking and all my shots came out blurry! |
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As we were only human, this find was not enough. Everyone resolved to continue the hunt and find the snake’s boyfriend, but I could not. I had entered a state of mind that is very hard to describe. I will try. I was dizzy. I felt something I had never felt before. I pretended to hunt, but I was somewhere else. This place…this state of mind…can only be described with a reference to the ancient Greek and Roman cultures as such a state unfortunately has no definition in our modern times. |
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First of all, Phil and I had spent hours away from wives, children, and
homes. Our families were not happy about this, and we carried the burden of
knowledge that we were responsible for conditions at home.
Secondly, we had struggled. On so many occasions we had recognized that we failed…and yet we resolved to push on, often joking about the fruitlessness of our efforts. |
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We drove on, sometimes for hours at a time and other times
for days. Our monies were spent. Our time was committed. We failed and
failed and failed. When the
pine snake materialized among the weeds I realized that the herp Gods were
conscious of all of our efforts. When my eyes drew the snake from among the
grasses and dappled sunlight a huge burden was lifted from my countenance.
All the efforts and suffering had not been for naught! With the odds against
us, we had prevailed!
For over a year all of our thoughts had been directed
towards this very moment, and its arrival was so strong that I was
transported to the same place that so many Greek and Roman protagonists had
found themselves after drinking from the cup or eating the food of the Gods.
Indeed, a reward was sent our way. But alas, as the Greeks and Romans
promised, there was a cost, for once you taste the food of the Gods, all
meals from that point forward are bland beyond recognition. |
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For sometime after the find I was in a dream-like state. I
remember walking with James and trying to focus on making another find, but it
was pointless. I had drunk from the cup, and I enjoyed the taste! Upon returning home I had to share my experience with others. I soon called John Macgregor to report this very special find. The significance of the find was easily heard in John’s initial response, and became clear to me when he said, “Well, Will…you will never find your first pine snake again.” |
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| This statement could not have been more accurate. I have tasted the food of
the Gods, and must now wander the Earth sustained on the blandest fare! It
is as if I have become a zombie.
My only recompense is my recollection of the whole experience. This will fade with time and I will remain in a lost and dream-like state wandering, searching and hoping for another find even more enchanting than this one. It will never come.
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Wordsworth |