Jason & Mountain Boomer

One of my fondest memories is an afternoon spent exploring around and climbing on a formation of inclined red sandstone slabs called Buffalo Rock. Rick and I were already in our forties while the other two explorers, Jordan and Jason, were still less than ten years old. A recent thunderstorm had cooled down the air to perfect temperature for the outing, and we were all enjoying ourselves as men recalling childhoods and children living them on the spot.

Jordan was up on Buffalo Rock before anyone else while Jason intently searched for wild things under rocks. I was watching when he turned one over and then his hand darted instantly over whatever had been hiding under it. Slowly, gently he opened his palm to reveal a beautifully marked Collared Lizard and exclaimed with glee, "A Mountain Boomer!".

I was as delightfully surprised as he was, even more so by how unperturbed the lizard was. At Jason's age, I was catching them in the Wichita Mountains and had learned then how fast they could move and how hard they could bite. But this one showed no inclination to do either, cocking its head a bit to eyeball Jason's broadly grinning visage, both very beautiful.

Later that evening over dinner, we discussed the outing together, wondering how the slabs of red sandstone ended up where and how they were situated, and how much they looked like a buffalo when viewed at a certain angle. I then asked Jason about how he was able to keep the lizard so calm on his hand as he did. Jason was a quiet, thoughtful boy, having not spoken until he was eight years old, worrying his parents some about developmental issues.

Jason spoke directly saying that by putting his hand over the lizard without quickly trying to grab it with his fingers, the lizard got used to the warmth of his hand in darkness beneath it, probably even getting to enjoy it. Then by waiting a little while longer before slowly wrapping his fingers into a loose cage so he could lift and turn it over palm up, that allowed it to get used to being handled and gawked at without becoming scared and running away.

We all knew then that there was absolutely nothing developmentally challenging for Jason.