The Jeep Journals

I left my corporate job on 7/21/17 in order to help showcase Nature for Mother Nature fans online. I did not arrive easily at this decision since my corporate job paid extremely well and included amazing benefits. Alas, the one benefit I was not easily allowed was the time to immediately pursue any and all wild events happening any and all moments of every day throughout the world. I know it would have helped me greatly to see more Nature during the work week, so that is what I’ve set out to bring to you. Stay tuned!

Beware Of Snakes!

Friday, December 17, 2021 7:31 PM


Today I saw one of the rarest of the rare, an Eastern Hog-Nosed Snake. Prior to my walk I met a friend who I’d met on the trails before and spoke with he and his wife about the very same topic, keeping an eye out for snakes. Shortly after my friends and I spoke, we parted ways. They walked ahead of me and they’d passed another couple heading my way who said of my friends “Can you believe that? He said good morning, but it isn’t even morning."

I checked the time and indeed it was just past noon. As the pair passed me I said quite cheerfully “Happy Day!” as the passers-by were unsure as to how to respond to that. Both responded but each had a myriad of thoughts going on after having been greeded “properly” this time, by their own standards. I began to wonder… Are snakes scary, or is it that they are not afraid of us? Is it that we fear them, or is it that they do not fear us? Is fear… Respect?

The thoughts I had went every which way and settled on this thought. If respect is a replacement for fear, perhaps simply knowing the adversary is all there is to learning to respect, rather than fear, that which we were uncertain of before. This snake, when I saw it, was clearly not one of the venomous snakes we have here in Texas, although it mimicked quite a few snakes in its general look! Are you able to see the picture? What comes to mind as you see it?



A lot of judgement can occur on sight alone. What about what we hear? What about how we speak? For me I am speaking quite often now with those who I meet on these trails of life. Life is the central conversation point that our topics center around. I am still seeing wildlife, particularly as I “forecast” my former observations into what it is that I am relaying about these times and the times we have all lived through together on these trails that we have shared.

Today is Friday, December 17, 2021. Next Friday will be Christmas Eve. I wonder, will any of us talk about the origins of Christmas? Will we be able to discuss the serpents among the trees? Will we be able to observe how hungry the snakes are? Have we ever been able to recognize hunger in the eyes of one another? What is it that we are hungry for, and are we ever going to be fully nourished in a way that makes any sense to “the big picture”?

‘Till next time, peace, love, and all that old school stuff. Have an amazing evening and a superb weekend!

Rey : )