Lizards in one fell swoop.

Here it is! The entire collection of The Lizard Chronicles. If you are caught up, just skip down to the final addition, Part V or The Burial.
Otherwise, pick up where you left off.
The Lizard Chronicles: Part I or Of Lizards and Boys
http://restlessgraygirl.blogspot.com/2011/05/of-boys-and-lizards.html
The Lizard Chronicles: Part II or It only took 3 days
http://restlessgraygirl.blogspot.com/2011/05/it-only-took-3-days.html
The Lizard Chronicles:Part III or It Only Took One Week and 4 Days.
http://restlessgraygirl.blogspot.com/2011/06/lizard-chronicles-part-3-or-it-only.html
The Lizard Chronicles: Part IV or He really is dead. Now.
http://restlessgraygirl.blogspot.com/2011/06/lizard-chronicles-part-iv-or-he-really.html

The Lizard Chronicles: Part V or The Burial.

The "official" burial occured, finally, 3 days after the certain demise. We went around the dinner table and shared things we loved about Skitters.

Thing 1:''He was interesting to look at, he changed colors with the heat lamp, and yeah, he was just...interesting to watch."

From Big Man: "He brought us together, Ben. We had to work hard to catch those rogue crickets. I liked spending that time with you."

Ben: "That's not about Skitters, dad. That's about us. What did you like about Skitters."

Big Man: "Oh, well...he skittered well."

Ben: "I just like lizards. And his heatlamp/night light brought me comfort. I liked having him in my room at night. Being a lizard."

Me: "Skitters was a cool blue-green under the light. And he looked so peaceful and contemplative while sunning himself. Plus, he brought you so much joy, Ben. Even though that's not about Skitters himself, it was a happy by-product of him being in your life."

He opted to flush him rather than bury him. I care not to share the debate that precluded this decision. Let's just say I was happy we were done eating.

At bedtime I was surprised to find a few more tears.

"I miss him, mom. I miss his light, I miss looking at him sitting on his tree bark. And not everyone can sleep with a lizard in their room."

"True. It's just one more item to add to the very long list of things that makes you special, Ben."

There was a small giggle. "Thanks, mom. I love you."

"Ditto."

The world is making me crazy.

Michelle Bachmann has officially announced her canidacy for president of the free world, the rate of suicide in the armed forces is at an all-time high, more states than not do not recognize same-sex relationships as marriage, and billions of dollars are being spent on a war that cannot be won. This is not the world I have been working on for my kids.

I recently saught counsel from a zen-like neighbor (thank you Amy!) who reminded me that Mother Theresa's actions were small and that all the little ripples can make waves. Our actions, our intentions, our presence and involvement in these crucial conversations do mattter even when we can't see or feel the results directly.

And this leads to what I am most interested in--conversations with people from all sides about what really matters without hyperbole and finger pointing. Just an exchange of heartfelt concern about the world in which we are making for our kids.

Another frustration I feel is the inability to have the conversation. We have labelled each other to death and people don't want to talk. I was once told , "You liberals just want everything to be fair." Do you think that person is interested in an exchange of ideas? With our feathers ruffled and minds closed before our mouths are open, how will progress be made?

I want to talk and be heard. I also want to listen. I can't be the only one, can I?

The Lizard Chronicles: Part IV or He really is dead...now.

Ok, ok. We thought he was dead. He was dead by all appearances. The tears were sincere, the pain was felt, and a few hours later we went back to the room to begin some sort of burial process and Skitters... had skittered away. He was gone! Hiding in the terrain under some leaves, we found him barely hanging on by a thread. I could not believe the drama of this day. With pure excitement Ben exclaimed, "He lives!"

Great! I managed to purchase the one lizard with super-reptillian powers. Resurrected from reptillian death, this lizard was messing with my son's emotions. How long could we do this?

48 hours to be exact. Lizard hospice care ensued. Dx: Dehydration and anorexia. Rx: D5W 1/2 cc TID. In layman's terms, this meant we force-fed Skitters by dropping a cricket into his mouth with a chopstick. Ben held the lizard while Bob dropped the cricket. Ben then had to close the lizard's mouth to encourage him to chew. 5 droplets of sugar water were gently sent down his little gullet. They did all this twice a day until Sunday morning when it was clear (stiff tail and curled up claws) that Skitters really would no longer skitter.

At one point Ben felt Bob was too involved and Skitters was no longer his, but he soldiered on with his caretaking. On Sunday morning when the result of their efforts were clear, Ben was surprisingly mature about the whole thing. " I got to hold him a lot. We tried. You know, mom, everything dies."

Hmmm...where were the streaming tears, the wailing, the need for comfort? Oh right. We already did that. No need to repeat, I guess. Saying good-bye is helpful, and he got to do that. It will take a while for him to realize how lucky he was.

THE END.

Really.