rattling

It’s a sound you recognize instantly. The rapid rat a tat tat tat of a rattle snake’s tail.

I saw one up close and personal recently. It caught me totally off guard. The idea of a snake hadn’t crossed my mind. I had tripped through some brush, tried to pull up some weeds and make a path to a barn door. When my contractor friend arrived and followed me to the open entrance- rat ta tat tat- rattle snake was hissing and shaking his tail like mad within striking distance. I jumped back and so did he. He was more intrigued and went closer to where the snake retreated. I saw a large yellow and brown diamond pattern on a snake the size of a turkey drumstick. He was fat and old and quite perturbed with us for disturbing his territory. It was such an unusual occurrence that I wondered ‘what could that mean’.  This barn repair has been on my mind for several years. I have tried multiple ways to get it done. I had pulled some old barn boards off two other barns marked for destruction by others in the community to use to repair my family’s barn. Finally, there seemed to be someone who understood what needed to be done and was offering to do it at a price I could afford.

Those who are drawn to the snake are gifted at perceiving life through an uncommon lens. 

Attributes of the Snake as a Totem or Animal Guide

• A natural ability to balance energies (you’re likely a gifted healer)
• Diplomatic and eloquent in areas of speech and writing
• Dynamically intuitive (often knowing other’s thoughts and emotional states without trying)
• Impulsive, but not without careful consideration. This may sound paradoxical, but those with the snake totem know what I mean here.

Impulsive, but not without careful consideration.

Hmmm…that sounds like a “careful risk taker”. 🙂 I have identified that behavior pattern.

Taking a chance? I am taking a big chance that this contractor will deliver a structural repair to keep the old barn from falling down. I didn’t ask for cosmetics. Just secure the two sides that are being held up by jacks and 2×4’s. Just put a new sill in two sides in the L shape that is missing from rot or natural destruction. What do I hope to see when he finishes in a couple of weeks? Just the same old barn from the 1940’s. But, one that won’t be at risk of blowing down or toppling from neglect. That is the saddest sight- loss of a decent building with good wood everywhere else and a weak area that needs repair. Take a look- he’s going to use the materials I have collected and some concrete for footers. We will see what it looks like afterwards. 

I do see life through an uncommon lens. I separate behavior from people. They are more than a choice of action. They are individuals who hold special places in my life. I don’t discard or disdain people for a few poor choices. Let’s look past that. Let’s see the end result- like I do with this barn repair. I surely hope I am not disappointed. But, if I am- at least I have done all I can and will be released to move on. There is no satisfaction in leaving things hanging or unresolved. I will surely get that much satisfaction. An ending- either good or bad, but definitely done. Besides, my best friend’s orange jack has been holding on for 2 years. And, my brother is waiting patiently to get those old boards off the lawn. How can I resist satisfying both of them too? I hope this old barn will be able to hang around so my grandchildren can see what my grandfather built. That’s my dream.