Chronicles of the Mass Exodus Episode 2: Saved by a New Mexican Lizard

Let me tell you a story. We were in LCNM on Valentine’ Day this year. The DW and I went out to a very nice dinner. She had the prime rib, we had a couple of micro brews and a good time was had by all. A few days before this we were in Mesilla and decided to get a few little momentos for the kids. A Valentine’s Day surprise. We packed them up in Wal-Mart mailing envelopes, went to the cute Mesilla Post Office and sent them on their way.



CollegeBoy was sent a key chain ornament, a small New Mexican lizard based on the Native American symbol. It is called a “spinning lizard” in Navaho lore, an image that promotes dreaming, agility, and conservation. This touches my thoughts on CollegeBoy.

Avia Venefica, a writer about Native American symbolism says this about the lizard – “They are flexible and adaptive to their environment, and the human psyche translates this as being symbolic of going with the flow and overcoming adverse external conditions. Due to their scurrying natures, quick pace and lightning reaction times, the lizard is considered the consummate escape artist. This makes them symbolic of our ability to recognize danger and remove ourselves from harm's way when the situation calls for it. Furthermore, most lizards are gifted with various forms of camouflage, and trickery to allude predators (like detaching their tails if caught by a hungry predator so that the lizard can escape to live another day). These gifts of illusion are symbolic messages to us that within us (as children of nature ourselves) we have impressive gifts we may utilize for our well-being. The lizard comes with a message about our responsibility to recognize these hidden gifts and skills so that we may avoid harm, and live freely and happily as we are designed to live.”



I got a call last week. CB had lost his keys and was on the verge of controlled panic. He had searched his room and retraced his steps without success. All there was left to do was report it to campus security and hope. After a couple of days he began planning what to do. His car has an alarm system and he had no spare key or alarm fob to get into it. After some calls it was shown to be a “Franklin Fix” as in it would cost him $100 for the tow, new keys and fob. AAA came and took his car to the local repair spot.

But then, the lizard spoke. A call from campus security told him they had been found. He asked if they were sure that they were his keys and the security officer said yes, they didn’t figure many students had a “New Mexican lizard” on their keys.

So, the lizard speaks to me. It tells me of my son’s dreaming, of overcoming adverse conditions, of using our gifts and recognizing the responsibilities these gifts portray to us. It comes to the rescue.

Now we have the bear going for us and the New Mexican lizard too!

(More about the bear in my next episode...)