Dozens of times a day I exchange smiles and greetings. I decided to spread the smiles by sharing a cool story.
I wrote recently about our bearded dragon Gyro and his sensitivity to vibrations.
Voices and footalls among others.
He’s also sensitive to color as evident by his startle when I wear a dark colored shirt.
The theory is he thinks I’m a predator.
Recently I’ve been working in close proximity to Gyro. A writer I’m far from a silent room companion.
Key clicks.
To give context, a touch typist I can do upwards of 115 words/minute with one error and over the years I’ve had many people tell me they find the sound of my typing soothing.
The rhythm of it.
Morse Code
I’d noticed Gyro coming to the corner of the tank closest to where I sit typing. I figured he liked hearing the key clicks because it meant someone was nearby. Then another thought occurred.
Up until recently I’d been spending time working outdoors. I’d noticed that a bird common in the area seemed to enjoy my company. It took awhile but I figured out they liked the sound of my key clicks. How?
They were talking back!
This particular bird – a spotted towhee – makes a clicking sound rather than a chirp. After several days working outside I tuned into the fact they were getting closer and closer eventually landing so close to me I thought they were going to land ON me. Then I realized they were talking to me.
Their clicks in response to the key clicks I made while typing.
The Gyro Dance
I’d noted awhile back Gyro loves listening to 80s synth music.
Such as The Cars.
He loves deep voices and will go to a part of the tank closest to the location where a deep voice originates. The latest?
In response to my typing he has been standing on his back legs and tapping the tank glass with his arms. He also butts it with his jaw. The sounds of tapping against the glass echo the sounds of my typing.
Clicketty-clack Don’t Talk Back!!
Wait! YES talk back!
Once I realized what was going on I began to pay attention and in so doing realized he butts his jaw against the glass when there’s a lull in my typing. At that point I talk to him – assure him I’m here and I see him. I also stop by the tank on my way out of the room – or in – and get low so as not to tower over him and make sure I’m in his line of sight.
I tell him how much I like him and think he’s awesome.
Lizard Brain
Ironically I’ve had a character in my Metatron’s Army series refer to the Light Beings as lizard brains from long before we got the beardie and I’ve always maintained Gyro has personality – to which I’ve been advised “He’s a lizard.” followed up with the idea he has “…like a single brain cell” from which to function.
Tongue in cheek of course
As I watched him excitedly typing against the glass today it occurred to me. Many people who have bearded dragons likely keep them in a tank somewhere and then go off to school and/or work. They don’t interact with their beardie on the level I have and I do working from home.
I’ve been picking him up to move him when his tank needed cleaning since we got him as a “tot” lizard and whenever I did I spoke to him. Even as he grew I handled him though not outside of necessity and I always talked to him in a reassuring tone so as to not overly stress him.
I believe nature responds to us. We might just have to look for it.
Hope this brings a smile.
Be well!
Elizabeth Maxim 