Creepy Critters

Now that I live in the desert,I've been particularly disappointed that I don't find wildlife climbing the walls of my house like I used to. After all, in Toluca, one of the coldest cities in Mexico, I often found tiny lizards just hanging out with me on the roof of our apartment. In Saltillo--in the desert--I have yet to find any (although a friend of mine catches some in her backyard all the time. What´s the deal? Why aren't they in my patio? Are we too close to the center of town? We don't have any grass? Mario sprays too much DDT?)

Anyway, the other day I saw an adorable little lizard climbing the walls of my mother-in-law's house. She was less than thrilled. She HATES having animals in the house, particularly uninvited ones. The little lizard was hanging on the wall, just above the level of suegra's head. She marched right up to it, hands on her hips, and just began yelling at this lizard. "You need to get out of here! Go home! You don't belong here! Get out! If I see you again, I'll kill you! You hear that--I'll KILL you!"

After that tirade, she sat back down at the table with me, and under her breath she confided, "I wouldn't really kill it. Lizards like that are such noble creatures. But they need to be talked to firmly. That's the only way they'll go away."

Good to know.

I am also much relieved that she has no plans to kill the little guy. I do enjoy those little lizards so much.

But she was right, after all. We haven't seen the little guy since.