Okay, so I haven't quite gotten used to the Lizards

There are many things that have kept me from changing a light bulb in the back of my house.
1. I had no spare light bulbs.
2. I can't reach it, so I had to find a chair to assist me.
3. When I finally got around to buying a light bulb, I failed to buy the right light bulb...and now have a box of light bulbs that don't work anywhere in my house...and the list goes on.

So, when I finally bought the right light bulb I decided to go change the bulb once and for all and be done with it, at least until it burnt out again. I noticed that quite a few of my neighbors were out and about on Sunday, and realized that changing a light bulb would be a spectator sport, but I thought it would be nice to give my neighbors something to watch other than the world cup (which, until this week, is all that Africa can talk about).

My screwdriver was a necessity in this endeavor, so I busted out my trusty toolkit (something I continually congratulate myself on buying for only 50 pula at a grocery store). When I went to go stand on the chair to change my light bulb I was greeted by a huge lizard staring me in the face. I resisted the urge to scream (I would rather save my screams for things that are really life threatening) and quickly got off the chair to think about what to do. The lizard, staring at me the entire time (mocking me) moved a little bit, but seemed perfectly content where he was.

I went to go get my broom to shoo him away, but quickly decided not to use the broom because I felt as though it would be cruel to knock this lizard off of its perch onto the hard ground ( i.e. I was afraid he would jump into my hair, or that I would knock him down and he would crawl towards my foot). It was at that time that one of my neighbors called out to me. She could see that I had now been staring at the lamp for about 10 minutes and wanted to know if she should call a friend of hers who is taller who would be able to change the light for me. I thought this was a very nice offer, but quickly assured her that height wasn't the problem...the problem was that I had a lizard who was mocking me...judging me...and, frankly, intimidating me (well, I didn't say all that, but I'm sure it was implied by my tone).

I decided, after careful deliberation, that the only thing to do was to leave this chore for another day when the lizard had maybe found a nicer, less intrusive home. Needless to say, I'm pretty sure this lizard was much more scared of me than I of him...but it's nice to know that even in Botswana things that are perfectly harmless still manage to inhibit me from changing a light bulb...it gives me peace of mind to know that when lots of things change...this will remain the same! Now if only I could manage to go visit the hospital in Mochudi again (it's been off of my list ever since I heard that pythons like to hang out on the rocks)....