I’m sure I won’t make any friends while waiting for the shuttle by staring at a decaying palm tree in a hypnotic-like trance. But this tree, this dilapidated, rotting palm tree, is more than just a tree. It’s an ecosystem, a shelter, a sanctuary, for numerous amounts of lizard families. Little anoles inhabit this tree carcass and spend their days using it as a source of refuge from busy college students walking on their territory.
I spent about 30 minutes today observing their life patterns. If you ever want to truly understand the frailty of life, watch lizards. Their actions are thought out and deliberate, each movement precise- either out of defense or predatory advancements. I watched them eat, I watched them bathe in the sun, I watched them scale trees, I watched them chase each other; all slow thoughts but quick actions, rapidly fleeing at the first threat of danger.
I’ll never know why, but the life of a lizard intrigues me and makes me defensive for their cause. As I prepared to load the shuttle, I watched a distracted student beeline straight through the lizards’ safety zone, like some sort of quarterback with a football and a 20 yard dash to the end zone. I watched small brown flashes flee in the opposite direction and scramble for safety in a mad dash. I wanted to yell after him and tell him what a dumbass he was for invading their sanctuary, but I pulled myself together and made the smart decision to keep my trap shut. Now, I’m not the kind of person to be any sort of activist or protester for any cause. Ever. Well, except Jesus. Anyways, all I’m saying is that we need to be more aware of our surroundings. I’m not going to start saying “save the trees” or walking around with picket signs and handing out buttons for support, but sometimes we just need to sit down and appreciate what we have and all the wonders that this world gives us. Like lizards.