Mother and Daddy love to fish on the Neosho River not far from home. Back in the 80s they had quite a story to tell when they returned from a day of fishing . I listened to that story. I soaked up the details. And I remembered it. Now I pass Snake Tree on to others.
Why did I remember this story that Daddy told?
Was it the excitement and thrill of a threatening snake? Or the humor of Mother climbing up into the tree? Maybe it was the suspense of Daddy fending off the snake with his pole, like a sword, as it slithered closer and closer to the boat?
These were all captivating details for me. But it was the hidden meanings, the deeper message, that drew me in.
Stories that carry forward a deeper message have a projective purpose. An impact.
I remembered the story because of its impact.
Connections. Rich lessons. This shared story continued its offering beyond its telling.
Respect of nature.
Importance of attentiveness.
Value of cooperation.
And the big one… There really are ‘snakes’ in this big world trying to get into people’s ‘boats’.
The Snake Tree has become a true place for my family. Like a family landmark. A reference point when we talk about the river.
It’s a landmark we can return to. A landmark we can learn from. It’s like a really good story.
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Shelly Simoneau
Shelly Simoneau Stories 