Yesterday Ben, Claire and I all went swimming. This is one of the things we love to do, especially in summertime when the park is just too darn hot- cool off in the pool and play! While we were swimming around, I noticed a little lizard hanging out on one of our pool noodles. This year, we've had a couple of lizards drown in the pool, unfortunately. For fear that this would turn into one of those situations I got hold of the noodle and let the lizard go free on the cement walk surrounding our pool.
He sat there for a few minutes, so we all gathered round to watch what the little lizard would do. He was so cute and tiny, and his tail matched the sky perfectly. Much to our surprise, he turned around and leaped back into the pool! He started swimming toward Ben, who got a little nervous because he's split-- he likes the lizards, but doesn't exactly want them touching him. I quickly grabbed another pool noodle, and the lizard climbed back on. The lizard just hung out on the noodle, watching us.
Torn at what to do, we put a half inch of water and a couple of larger flat rocks into a bucket, and put the lizard (quickly dubbed "Little Blue Tail") into it so we could finish our swim and not have to worry about saving any more animal lives. Ben even gave him a leaf, which he figured was Blue's favorite toy. The kids would swim for a few minutes, then they'd have to get out and check that Blue was doing okay.
The kids got infatuated with the idea of keeping the little lizard for a pet. It took a lot of talking in the afternoon and evening hours to help them realize that Little Blue Tail wouldn't be happy with us, he'd miss all his lizard friends (we must have 10 or more lizards living in our yard right now- no complaints!), and he couldn't be happy in a bucket with nothing to do but sit on a rock or swim. Plus we didn't have any lizard food, and Blue would die, and that would be too sad.
Outside we quickly went to free our Little Blue Tail. He climbed up on a rock, so I reached in and pulled out the rock he was sitting on, and put it on the ground. He sat there for a minute while the kidlets said their goodbyes to Little Blue Tail (no tears, thankfully). Then when I opened the door to go inside, Blue bolted towards the door!! I got the kids inside before Blue could reach the door (man, those lizards can RUN!!!), and closed it, hoping that Blue would go find his family, and maybe some bugs to eat.
I've never seen a lizard like him before! I almost wanted a pet lizard myself. . . . Almost, but not quite. :)
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