I SHOULD HAVE KEPT THE SNAKE

What happens when life refuses to follow the plan?

Sometimes, the only way forward is to laugh, keep going, and trust that there is a reason behind the chaos.

In I Should Have Kept the Snake, Jaclyn Demers shares an extraordinary true-life journey filled with unexpected adventures, complicated family relationships, unforgettable animals, mechanical challenges, and moments that test the limits of patience and perseverance.

From growing up on a Wisconsin farm surrounded by horses and other animals to navigating family turmoil, demanding work, serious health struggles, and the challenges of rebuilding her life, Jackie has never followed an ordinary path. Her determination, practical skills, and unconventional outlook help her face one unexpected obstacle after another.

When a journey from Wisconsin toward Arizona becomes a seemingly endless battle with a troublesome truck, the road brings more than mechanical breakdowns. Unexpected encounters, acts of kindness, and moments of reflection lead Jackie to reconsider her understanding of faith, purpose, and the experiences that have shaped her life.

Told with candid storytelling, irreverent humor, and heartfelt honesty, this memoir explores what it means to be different, to endure life’s hardest moments, and to discover hope in the most unlikely places.

Sometimes, the things we reject are the very things that teach us the most.

A humorous, heartfelt, and unconventional memoir about resilience, faith, family, and the unpredictable adventure of being alive.