[GH85Carrera]

Many years ago I helped the Oklahoma City Zoo raise some money for the education department.

I set up a 4x5 camera system and a Polaroid film adapter. We could take a photo of a visitor while they held either a 6 fool long boa constrictor, a 14 inch alligator, a ground Owl and some other critters. Lots of people wanted to hold the snake.

Lots of people (mostly women) ran like it was the chain saw massacre guy coming at them with a chainsaw. We tried to get them to come closer and about half actually came over and touched the snake like it was the bravest thing ever. A few actually held it, and bought a picture of them holding the snake.

100% of the money went to the Docents education fund. They paid the cost of the film, and I provided a weekend of free labor. Of course several docents helped and worked for free as well. My mom was the number one on the list of most hours spent as a docent at the zoo for many years.

It was interesting to see some people with genuine terror of a totally harmless snake. Some guys were more afraid than their little daughters. It was hard not to laugh when one 6 foot Marine looking type of guy backed off 15 feet and his little 7 year old daughter and came and held the snake. Dad stood so far in the background he was hardly in the picture.