We have used it as an expression to speak of someone, or some team, having trouble winning or making it to another level. "They seem to be snake-bitten." I have no idea where such a statement was birthed. We have a dear friend, Marge Williams, who can speak of this awful event in the first person.
Marge and Don Williams live on a lovely Estate at the edge of College Station. Deer graze in their yard, along with all the other critters of the wild. Man and beast live together there in peace and accord. There are, however, snakes. Copperheads dominate. These snakes are not usually as aggressive as water moccasins. They carefully sneak about in the undergrowth, leaving we humans alone....most of the time. Saturday morning as Marge moved a netting, covering some of her plants, she came across a very angry Copperhead. He(or she) had gotten tangled in the netting. Marge did not see this snake, but she felt it as it bit her knuckle. Quickly, swelling began to move from there to her hand and arm. It was a fast trip to ER and the Hospital. A venom for pit vipers was available and she was cared for. Hopefully Marge will be up and around real soon. She had a close encounter of a scary kind.
We are planning to go to their home this coming Friday so we can attend a wedding of the daughter of one of our dearest friends, Ross Arth. I love to go to this place. It can be a birding paradise. I am hopeful the birds will be flying close to the house so I can see them from the deck. I plan NOT to grub around in the flower beds while there. That is a job for some Master Gardener of which I am not.
