Gator Getters – Little Problems Can Result in HUGE Mistakes
Two years ago, I took a road trip to visit a fellow SigEp
fraternity brother in Charleston, SC. I fell in love with the area and after
spending 24 years as a Michigander, I decided to up and move. Shortly after my
move into some southern hospitality, I got involved catching nuisance
alligators. Mind you, we don’t have alligators in Michigan and, trust me, if
anyone would have said that I would be jumping on the back of a 10 foot 400
pound alligator, I would have said, “you’re insane!”
As you can guess and by look at YouTube videos or by even
watching the hit TV show Gator Boys, you know it doesn’t take much for things
to go wrong and downhill all before you can say, “mama’s sweet potato pie.”
(yes, in a short time the southern twang is rubbing off on me y’all) I got a
call around 4:00 am to catch a gator in a ladies garage. Apparently, the gator
got in before she closed the garage at night. She was on her way out to her car
when she her some noises and hissing under her car. Needless to say, I managed
to roll out of bed half asleep to get a look at the gator. I managed to move
the gator from under her vehicle and the show down began between the gator and
I, him looking at me, me looking at him, without a blink from either of us.
After a short period of time, I put a noose around his
neck and pulled him onto the grass where it’s safer for him and me. I tired him
out and asked a police officer if he could help me. I asked him if he was
comfortable with gators, had done this before, and if he were comfortable with
having my life and very least my limbs in his hands. As with any cop, “yes,”
was his response. I repeated the same questions again. He again said, “yes.” I
show the cop exactly what to do: keep the pole and harness tight around his neck
and to push down as hard as he can over the snout of the gator. I explicitly
said, “Whatever you do, don’t let up and don’t move or he will get me.” I tap
the gator and pull him to see if he would react. Nothing. I proceeded to jump
on the back of the gator and, as I did so, the cop let off the pole! The gator
swung around to get me: jaws open, teeth glistening, and maybe even a little
drool.
Sometimes the smallest and simplest things can radically
change the outcome of a situation. You can plan, train, and prepare for any
situation but that doesn’t mean crap. All it takes is one little thing to
happen unexpectedly and your world can come crumbling down.
Here are my 5 things that can make a big difference no
matter what happens:
1.
Tell those around you what they mean to you.
Love is like breathing, its best when engaged.
2.
Write hand written thank you notes. As a
millennial, someone living in the microwave generation, I live in the fast
lane. I never forget to send a hand written note to someone when necessary.
3.
Turn off the TV – I recently found myself
watching an excess of TV, watching other’s live their lives and get rich by me
doing so. Spend time with your loved ones, exercising, writing, etc. Don’t complain about not getting
anything done if you’re watching the darn TV!
4.
Have fun – don’t take life so serious. Like that
cliché sign you see everywhere: “Live, Laugh, Love”
5.
Do something you would never do before! Leap out
of your comfort zone. Do something you’ve never done before. I will soon be
jumping out of an airplane!
So after reading this story, you’re wondering what in the
hell happened? Did I die? Did I lose an arm? Did I lose a leg? Did I feed the
cop to the gator like many of you would want to! Well none of the above! In
certain situations you can see how things are going to play out even as you’re
in motion. Like a deer running in front of your car, you see it happening and
you can prepare… at least a little. With
some dumb luck and a touch of observation I saw the cop fidget and move
allowing the gator to swing his powerful head and jaws. I saw this and successfully
shoved the gators jaws in the ground before he could attack me.
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