Wearing your iguana

People often use reptiles as fashion statements--alligator boots, snakeskin or lizard belts and hat bands, and other self-adornment geegaws. I don't condone killing animals to wear them, but I have found that an iguana makes a lovely hair ornament. I wear my lizard hat every night while playing computer games... or maybe she is using me for a vantage point to see around the living room. Either way, it's a symbiotic relationship.

Evening is Krammit's time to be a house lizard. First, she'll run or hop around the floor. Then she'll climb one of the two sofas and do some exploring before she picks a spot and settles down for a nap with the family around her. Finally, just before bedtime, I'll pick her up for cuddle time.

Krammit's idea of cuddle time is to perch on my shoulder while I do computer stuff. First my left shoulder, then my right. When that gets boring, she clilmbs atop my head, sprawling out, rearranging my fuzzy hair. Balancing a 3 1/2 foot long lizard on your head is an interesting challenge, but we are up to it.

At first this was nervewracking, and even dangerous. Lizards can and do bite and they have terribly sharp claws. We have conquered the sharp claws with a pedicure so now she can balance herself on my head without drawing blood--mine. As for the biting, we have both made a leap of faith. She trusts that I won't drop her and I trust that she won't bite me. So far so good.

I have dogs and horses and love them dearly, but the iggie is the first pet I've had that I could use for a living hat.