Story time! Info: I am typically cold as ice under pressure. Working on volcanoes & in the world's harshest environments will teach you that. Today, we decided to take the dogs in a hike in a park. We drove to the park. I experienced something that has me amped up hours later. 1/

We arrived at the park with Gryphon (8lb chiweenie) sitting on my lap in the passenger seat. Zephyr (35lb cattle dog) & Titan (30lb terrier) were in the back seat. Everyone was leashed & harnessed, with their safety collars on. Carlos parked, and I opened the door. 2/

As usual I let Gryphon jump down. We'd parked on the side of the road, on dried grasses & dirt. Gryphon is golden. I watched him jump down, & every nerve in my body hit full panic mode in less than the blink of an eye. Under the car, partly hidden, I saw a dark, sinuous shape. 3/

I grew up in the west. I knew this shape in the core of my being. My heart flew into my throat as I clutched desperately for Gryphon's harness. My eyes found the dusty brown rattle as my fingers closed on the harness strap. I yanked my poor oblivious dog upwards... 4/

My right leg, bare except for a running shoe and short sock, was poised to slam down onto the rattlesnake if it so much as twitched before I got Gryphon back into my arms. In less time than it takes to snap your fingers, the whole thing was over & I slammed the car door shut. 5/

At that point I was exclaiming, "holy shit holy shit holy shit holy shit," & smothering Gryphon, who was extremely confused. Carlos, in the dark, was growing alarmed. I told him there was a rattlesnake immediately under the car. I don't think he got it until he pulled away. 6/

The huge piece of luck for us (yet unfortunate for the snake) was that it was dead. It had to have been that way when we arrived, but the wild part is that I could only see the parts of its body that were totally pristine. Now, I am not afraid of snakes. I love them. 7/

This experience was a rare one. I just don't feel terror like I felt for little Gryphon...ever? He's my responsibility & I couldn't very well blame a snake for doing what snakes do if it HAD been alive & bitten him. If I'd needed superhuman strength, I think I would've had it. 8/

We had a nice walk, but I still feel shaken. Remember to always check the area before you let your pets or kids out in a new spot, & check your tires before driving! I'm gonna eat & veg out now. Gryphon is oblivious. Cut warning: I'm putting a pic of the poor dead snake next. 9/

Poor snake. It definitely didn't deserve to be run over. We share their territory with them, and we're the guests. Let's do our best to be aware of them & all the other critters out there. We're more of a danger to them than they are to us. /#