Leaving Is Hard To Do

Leaving is often difficult whether you’re leaving homes, relationships, a season of your life, special people,  family members or…

lizards. Definitely lizards! 🦎           

One of many things that has been difficult for me is to leave my lizards to travel. Mostly because I’ll miss them, but also because they’re finicky and their functionality (read on) is out of whack when I’m gone. It worries me. This is not always common lizard behavior, but lizards are very aware of their human being away once a bond has manifested.

I recently traveled out of state again, but I’m back with Murph. He would have loved to see the special people that I did, but he didn’t go. I called him the 1st night and on the full days I was away. No, he did not answer the phone.😏 His caretakers took care of that.

I don’t know how many people call their reptiles, but I presume that population is nearly non-existent. Don’t judge me.

Everyone who knows Murph knows he is to be hand-fed or he refuses to eat. Also, he is a picky pooper. He prefers to do his business in the grass where he scoots to wipe himself before I scoop him up for a bath. He’s been known to “hold it in” until he goes where he wants to or settles for a potty pad when it is too cold outside. He will not potty in his enclosure. I guess some would declare he is a “special needs” lizard, but no, he is a lizard who wants what he wants and knows exactly what that is!! He’s been beautiful and rebellious since he was a baby.

Caretakers know the character that is Murph and have watched me feed him to know the technique. At least I don’t worry about him starving entirely.

This stuff happens, however rare, and I think it is only Beardies that become finicky and stubborn in this way. I’ve been blessed with two just like this and I met a lady who has a “grandlizard” just the same. If anyone knows another species possessing this behavior, we’d love to know about this.

While away, I missed Murph and people lighting fireworks for days (like there’s an Independence Week) stressed Gypsy. Gypsy has a sound machine in her room (and a water fountain is sometimes flowing) that helps to literally drown out some noise. I knew the two of them were in loving hands as I visited my two fun,  beautiful, and far away people. I’ll call them “Awesome1” and “Awesome2.”

Our meet-up began at a neat Mediterranean restaraunt where Awesome1 prepared our meals, rather than the kind people there doing it. I received what I requested, and oddly,  the other two things I was interested in, he magickally offered!

Later… to Awesome 1, “What is this red stuff in my dish? (And later) What are these yellow things?” I don’t recall now what he said. I’ve enjoyed dishes from other countries, but I didn’t recognize those things. I couldn’t eat it all there, and I usually do not eat sweets, so I took the remainder and  baklava for dessert to enjoy later. Awesome1 went out of his way to spend all hours hanging out with us from that night on.

Here’s how fun these two people are: Awesome2 pre-purchased everyone’s tickets to a great museum, and later treated us to smoothies, wraps, & flatbread sandwiches from his favorite smoothie place.

Some time later, after we returned, I exited the back door of Awesome2’s home. “Cool, we’re gonna hang outside,” I thought, but something felt off – six eyeballs near the garage looking at me in a suspect manner caused me to ponder my lot. Two of them belonged to Awesome2. He was holding two helmets and grinning.

Alrighty then, looks like I’m going for a ride!! Right on!! Awesome2 has three crotch rockets in his garage (yard & driveway are for vehicles right now). One rocket is his, one is his buddy’s (he has been working on it for the guy and is cool with it being parked there), the 3rd is a not-so-bada** model. It doesn’t take off as quickly and they use it to train others who want to know how to ride – a very cool samaritan service.

Now, I have a whole new appreciation for these things and a level of respect for the people that ride them!! These riders are either amazingly brave and adventurous or flippin’ nuts!! No, no flip. Nobody flip!! Jeez, I did nothing but consider that a possibility when I wasn’t impressed by the awesome sound and intense thrill of the experience!! It is not just modified Harleys that are impressive (a previous misconception).

*A really neat history of crotch rockets right HERE

I’ve never been a so-called backseat driver, but I turned into one quite quickly!! When one should begin applying brakes at a stop light, Awesome2 accelerated!!

“Light! light! Red light!!” and “You’re breaking for two!!” He heard this through both helmets, at nearly every red light. What a tolerant one he is! Did he do this to mess with me? Maybe this is just his style, apparently he’s really good at it! 🤔 But, he applied the brakes like a champ, smooth as silk. As my life flashed before me multiple times. I realized I am not old yet and I want to live. I did feel alive, and vulnerable as all hell!! I may have felt safer in my skin  had I donned 10 layers of chaps and a couple of leather jackets.

🏍 🏍 🏍

“Okay, Houston, we’ve had a problem here.”

I, a person who wants to fly in a fighter jet as it breaks the sound barrier (Oooh yeah!), and took great delight in gunning the gas in a beautifully archaic military vehicle, surprised myself as I uttered what seemed to be words foreign to my tongue, “Take me back, please.” What did I just say!? Who said that?

The feeling of speed takes on a new form on those things. Anyone who has ridden go-carts or similar low-rider can attest to the speed that you’re going feeling faster when you’re down low. I expected it to be something like that, but no, that feeling is magnified beyond belief on a motorbike!

Moments flew by and I saw before us a stretch of road without a stoplight or obstacle of any kind. “Uh-oh…” I said in my head!! I don’t want this darling thrill-seeker to go there with zero traffic. If it felt like we were doing 100 (mph) before, we’re about to be doing that in six seconds or less!!

So, as per my request, he turned around in a lot just before that which I was dreading. If I knew we’d both live to be unscathed, I would have gone on, because wow, what a rush!! I know he’s gone faster than that, but I try not to think about it.

As we head back, he says,  “I’ll do the speed limit back, I promise.” Translation: He may mean that, but no, nope, he’s joking. I was right. I don’t know how fast we were going heading out and away, but this time I was peeking over his shoulder. Doing 63 in a 45 definitely feels like 100 mph!! My fingers were already locked around him near his diaphragm, and then I pushed against his back as if that would keep us both from blowing off or something. Come to think of it, I hope he was able to breathe.

As expected, looking back, I wish I had just experienced what he wanted me to if we indeed were going to go down that road with no vehicular interference. I value my hide, but I’m not a fan of questioning my sense of adventure. Who was that pu**y on the bike? I don’t know her.

Some hours later:

Awesome2 has created a fire & made a run to buy more chairs and the best smelling bug spray. It’s not good chemicals for the skin, but I smelled delightfully of lemon Pledge. So, we’re sitting around the fire pit. I go inside for something as Awesome 1 is playing guitar at the fire, maybe that time he was strumming “Five Magics” by Megadeth. It sounds great on an acoustic guitar and with his ethereal- sounding style! His music adds more good-for-the-soul stuff to visiting around a beautiful fire.

I return to the pit (fire, not mosh). I then reached my hand out for an unrecalled reason, when a twig landed perfectly on my forearm and balanced there.  I said to 1,  “That’s weird,

just as soon as I extended my arm, a twig landed on it.” To which 1 replied, while pausing incredible music, “A twig landed on me a minute ago too.”

“…Hmmm,” I ponder. I position myself into the camping chair and what do I see? Awesome2 has positioned himself  on the roof, and with lightning speed and precision accuracy, is dropping random twigs onto unsuspecting 1 and myself below. 😄

Of course he would have a few convenient, tiny twigs there to be plucked from their gutter graves for amusement purposes!!

Had I not spotted him up there grinning all hilariously, I can only imagine the mysteries 1 and I would have been contemplating had it continued.

Then Awesome2 said, “You should see the moon from here (it was a super moon unobstructed by the tree leaves at ground level).” “How’d you get up there?” He said,  “Over there,” with a nod toward the spot, so I walk around…

The man is stealthy!! He carried, placed, AND extended to the appropriate size maybe a 30 foot extension ladder (it was dark, I couldn’t tell which size) and angled it against the gutter without Awesome1 hearing a thing as he sat fireside!!

So, I climb up. Indeed, the moon was beautiful and we were flanked by occasional, pretty fireworks! Awesome1 arrives shortly and somehow got up there with sandals (not ideal ladder climbing & roof-scaling shoes) and 3 classic, red Solo brand cups of scotch – a wonderful and thoughtful gesture (get the people tipsy while their standing on the roof!! Just kidding) We had a “Cheers.” I was so happy up there with them! I prefer a “Cheers” on a roof with them and those plastic cups over a “Cheers” with with a snifter or rock glass in a fine restaurant any day!

There actually is an Awesome3:

I had an awesome time with Awesom1 and Awesome2! It hurt to leave. I may be counting on Mr. Elon Musk to maintain a safe haven for free speech and also invent teleportation so that morally adjusted people can see those they love frequently.

I wanted to stay, but had to get back to Murph, Gypsy, and responsibilities. Murph’s caretakers sent updates and photos showing him receiving his morning cuddle and going outside.

A neighbor came by to see Murph too. Murph has won the neighbors’ hearts. On both sides of our house, people who had never before touched a lizard now pet Murph, hold him, speak to him, and tell him he’s cute. He’s a charmer!! They thought I was a strange, new neighbor with a lizard, but these kind people now know Murph & I, and they understand why we’re together.

What else are other people saying to and about Murph and Lizardplanet.com? See our page: What People Are Saying…

Without Murph & Gypsy’s caretakers, the trip would not have been possible. ❤️ Wonderful people are blessings, and animals are too.

“Give me Lizardry or give me Death!” – ❤️ Dawn