Protective mechanisms…we all have them. You know, those techniques you use to get out of a situation you view as uncomfortable or potentially threatening. Apparently Eastern Hognose snakes have these mechanisms as well. Below is a photo of one of my son’s baby Hognose snakes playing dead as a protective measure from predators. He isn’t dead, but he is a helluva’ an actor.

And the Academy Award goes to… the baby Eastern Hognose snake playing dead.

Even in the hard-wiring of a baby snake are protective mechanisms designed to save it from harm. Lately I have seen too many stories in the Forum about cruel acts committed on animals and children. Today, there is news of a child who died because she was hit with a bat in the midst of a fight between adults over a washer and dryer.

Awhile back I watched a Dateline about a lost little girl named Michelle. She disappeared when she was three and the description of the episode seemed to indicate that she had been located after decades of being gone. That is the only reason I watched the episode. I wanted to know that sometimes the most horrible thing does not happen. Dateline poorly worded the description of the episode, and frankly that made me quite angry as they led me through about three-quarters of the episode believing that the little girl would emerge at the end alive (of course now as a full-grown adult decades later).

I am purposeful in avoiding stories that detail the death of the helpless. These stories sicken me and stick with me. The little girl in the old faded photo did not emerge alive at the end, although it is noted that it can sometimes happen. We did just hear of the young woman who was kidnapped at 11 recently being found alive having lived a bizarre existence for almost two decades with her captors. A tragic twist to this poor girl’s life and the lives of her family members, but she is alive and has been reunited with her family. At least there is hope for the rest of her life.

Today, I still think about the adorable little girl, Michelle, who was allegedly killed at age three by either her mother or stepfather (see the full story at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23592454/ ). The night she was allegedly killed she ran to her older brother’s room (I believe he was all of six at the time) and said “hide me”. She hid under her brother’s covers, but as the brother tells it the mom found her and took her away. That was the last anyone ever saw of Michelle. Her body was never recovered.

I’ll never forget little Michelle’s story. Even at age three she tried to protect herself by hiding with the only person in the house she believed she was safe with – her older brother. Protective mechanisms aren’t quite the same for those who are helpless in the face of a much stronger aggressor.

Some days I have to tell you I am not sure if I am made for the realities of the human race and the world. We should be able to do more to protect those who cannot protect themselves (and I note that this statement extends far beyond small children and animals). It sickens me that these things happen. I cannot just look away and move on – the stories linger in my mind and they weigh on my spirit.

I know I am a Pollyanna on this front. I know that sometimes horrible things happen; I know this is the reality of life. Yet, I just cannot accept it as a forgone conclusion. I want to believe that we can do more to protect those who cannot protect themselves. If only it were as simple as being a great actor like the baby Hognose snake.

Day sixty-two of the new forty – obla di obla da

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