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A Writerly Blog

Facing The unexpected on our nomad journey

9/21/2023

1 Comment

 
Rat Snake

Unexpected Creatures


In an isolated tropical bush village in Papua New Guinea, one would expect to find creepy critters—and I did. Over 30 years ago, I went to PNG as a single missionary teacher. While there, I experienced millipedes, centipedes (the 4-6 inch kind with crablike legs), and spiders with bodies the size of golf balls (yes, you read that right).

But unexpected situations in North Carolina? No way! This is the USA. With temperate weather, an idyllic coastline, gorgeous sunsets, and stunning mountain vistas, who would expect creepy crawlies?? I soon found out! My first encounter was at Hickory Cove Bible Camp in Taylorsville. It was early summer, and the day was hot, so I wore my flip-flops on my .125-mile uphill trek to the camp mailbox. It was nearing dusk, so as I walked back to our cozy doublewide, I noticed something looking like a long tube stretched across two lanes on the country road. I kept walking, and then slowed. Wait. Was that a snake?? Yikes! Was it dead? Deadly? Ready to slither across the road as I passed by? Would he try to bite me? Oh, great. What a day to wear flip-flops!

I didn't ponder those questions for long. I moved steadily down the road without glancing over at the cold-blooded creature. And I survived. Later that week, I was told he was harmless and had a name: Frank or something similar. Evidently, he comes quite often to the camp, especially to the front porch of the double-wide we are staying in. What?? Snakes climb stairs??! Suddenly, I felt exposed. Unprotected. But still able to sleep at night. 

Until. . . 

We moved to Fort Caswell, just 50 minutes from our new home, where we are volunteering while we await our move-in date. It's a Baptist camp located at the end of a coastal peninsula, complete with lighthouse, and ships, ferries and fishing boats galore passing by throughout the day. Oh, and there are stunning sunsets, a wild breeze, and an array of seabirds along the shore, calling, catching prey, and sunning themselves on the dock. 

So, imagine how stunned I was to find a small snake laying across the threshold between the kitchen and living room in (yes, IN) our beach house (Note the pic at the top). Not knowing what it was, I immediately took a pic and asked my friends on Facebook if it was friend or foe. Turns out, it was a rat snake. Totally harmless. Well, unless, of course, you're a rat. 

We had a maintenance man from the camp come and find the source, after we had seen five of these snakes pop up in various rooms of the house—even on the second floor. (Yes, Mabel, it's true— they slither up stairs). He blocked up the hole with foam, and called it a day. Our relief lasted only a day or two, then three more showed up. So bizzare! To this day, we don't know how they get into our living quarters. Thankfully, they are all babies of various sizes.
Banana Spider

An Unexpected Web of Intrigue


One day, on our way to work in the cafeteria, we found this beauty just outside the back door. She graced the web like a star. I was shocked because I hadn't seen a spider that large (actual size) since my time in New Guinea. Again, I reached out to my Facebook friends, and they didn't disappoint. I was told it was a banana or orb spider, but both were harmless.

I breathed a sigh of relief until one of the interns showed me a pic of a hummingbird caught in the web of one such creature; life sucked out of him and spun into a coffin to eat later. So sad. Next thing you know, she will be catching rats! Even so, I'm making peace with her. Each time we enter the back door to the kitchen, we say hello. I'm calling her Asmerelda, which seems to fit a brightly patterned spider.
Ghost Crab

Hide and Seek with Ghost Crabs


You'd think, with my aversion to spiders, I would be fearful of crabs. Not so. For some reason, I consider them comical and cute. Ghost crabs are also shy, and play hide and seek in the bushes. They  can be found on the beach at night, popping out of their holes in the sand. But have your flashlights ready—they move fast!
Lizard

Luminescent Lizards


And last, but not least are lizards. They do not strike fear in my heart. But I have been known to strike up a conversation with one, as I did this day. Lizzie is what I called her. And no, this is not a gecko. Their head is v-shaped and a gecko’s triangular. 
Sand spurs on bottom of athletic shoe

A Creature of an Unexpected Kind


Although these foes are not alive, they are cause for concern. Sand Spurs are everywhere, so footwear is essential. It is not pleasant to step on one, and they are a challenge to pick out of rugs and shoes without sticking oneself. At least they are not poisonous, nor do they bite.
Picture

Unexpected Challenges


Although we realize it's hurricane season, we expected to be safe inside our comfy beach house, just yards away from the Intracoastal inlet. Each day, the tide flows in and out (four times a day, evidently), but only in a tropical storm or hurricane is there danger of flooding. We are thankful God has spared us from this disaster so far.  But there is another source of possible flooding: water dripping from the porch roof and onto the inside window frame. Here, you can witness our attempt at preventing pools of water in our downstairs kitchen/living room during tropical storm Ophelia. Ahh, yes. The coastal life. 
Jarm Del Boccio, author and hubby, Dan

An Unexpected Pleasure


All in all, we are thriving and even enjoying our volunteer work here at Fort Caswell. The setting is relaxing, the staff friendly and helpful, and our kitchen duties workable for our aging bodies. Plus, we have the pleasure of experiencing the hurricane season near a body of water, witnessing the effects firsthand.

God has been good to us every step of our nomad way. But more on that next month. He is teaching us to trust Him in all situations, proving once again--He is enough. 

Have you experienced a hurricane? What about a creature invasion? Let me know below!
1 Comment
Nada
9/26/2023 03:11:20 pm

Vicki, I would be terrified living with snakes and spiders and even crabs and Lizards!
But mostly the part...some end up in your beach house, had me
wondering how I would handle this. Will this happen in your new home? I wouldn't be able to sleep at night.
I don't do to well with an occasional mouse showing up and then there was the time a bat flew into our little multi -use room, where we spend a lot of time. I was Terrified and it was very small. My husband loves all animals , including bats! ! I screamed , but my Hubby
caught him, and I ran and opened the porch door! My husband gently released the bat and it was gone! Phew!
So as far as being in a hurricane or seeing one in person, no I haven't, but my sister has. She lived in Florida year round and
her business and apartment on top, was located on HWY A!A with a big hotel located across the street from her. A hurricane did come thru ( not sure how strong) but she ended upstairs upstair
in the hotel (before it hit) and watched it from there.
Finally, the only invasion of critters I have dealt with is roaches!
Yuk, and we're talking big ones! The apartment I mentioned my sister and her kids lived in, well, I was visiting with my friend and roaches were the topic , having seen a few. Even if you see one , there is no way I will step on it! the sound is sickening. So here we are trying to make a plan to keep any roaches rom getting into the room . Mind you, we are teenagers in high school and we are laughing and carrying on. My sister came out of her room (it was bedtime) and let us know to be Quiet. that didn't help because we couldn't stop laughing. We put our suitcases in the doorway (as if that would help keep the bugs out) and as it happened, we finally went to sleep and a far as I remember, no roaches walked across us as we slept. Let it be clear, there wasn't an infestation of bugs just enough to freak us out and send shivers up the spine! It is known, you could live in the top apartment on a tall condominium, and still have roaches. It's Florida!


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