It's OK to scream

At some point in my college career, I remember writing a list of things I'd learned so far. I don't remember the whole list, but I do remember (years later) chuckling as I read:

"Sometimes, it's OK to scream."

I can't remember the incident that sparked such brilliant writing, but it is quite true.

Tonight I was in the kitchen making dinner and I opened the cupboard in front of my face to get something out of it.

I nearly screamed then, because I saw a flash of something, but it moved so quickly I couldn't find it. I thought something had fallen on the counter, so I looked there, too, but nothing was in sight, and I was holding Diana. OK . . . perhaps I was wrong . . . quietly I went about my business--trying to forget that I was pretty sure something moved out of the cupboard.

A few minutes later, when I closed the cupboard door, a lizard fell on top of my stove. I think when I opened the door, he scurried out onto the front of the door, so that when it was open, I couldn't see him. As I closed it, he knew he was busted and tried to scurry once again to safety, but fell to the stovetop.

Thankfully, he landed between the two covered pots I was using for cooking, (not sure what dinner would have been without his landing away from the food. Although, at least I'd know where he was if he ruined my dinner).
I screamed once, and again when he ran to the counter. I called Andrew "Lizard Catcher" into the room, and asked him to get it. He couldn't find the lizard on the counter . . . and neither could I. In my defense, the counter is cleaner today than it's been in months, see below*******
Finally he reappeared on the counter
(I screamed again, and so did Diana)
and then he ran to temporary safety, this time behind the stove . . . . We watched carefully and I had Andrew stay in the room much longer than he wanted to so he'd be ready to catch him if my fine reptile friend showed up again.

Questions:
1) How did he get into the cupboard in the first place?
2) From Andrew: "Do you think the lizards have a breeding place in our house?"
3) Why do lizards bother me so much? This one was not more than 3 inches long at the most--but they really give me the creepy crawlies.
4) I can honestly say I do my very best to stay out of all lizards' way, why can't he stay out of my kitchen?
5) How are you supposed to cook with lizards falling onto your stovetop?
6) Where is he now?
7) When am I going to find him again?
8) Will either of my lizard catchers be available then?
9) Why do guys think lizards are so cool?

Of course I called Nathan and asked him to come home as soon as possible, (it was after 5pm anyway) and when he got home, I broke into tears when I asked him #5.

We have at least one lizard on the loose, but we will catch him . . . I just hope I don't have to do it alone. The last lizard I had to take care of ran to the back door, so I quickly let him outside, thanking my lucky stars it wasn't more complicated. Hopefully this one is his relative and knows where the back door is.

*****Two realtors have shown our house in the past 36 hours. They are the first ones to do so . . . they are not going to have them come everyday, but it adds considerable stress to my life to get a phone call like this:
"Hi, I have a realtor who'd like to show your house in 20 minutes, is that OK?"
The side blessing to the realtor stress, however, is that I am keeping my house tidier than normal. Who knows? The next one to walk in the door could be my new landlord.

My conclusions: It is OK to scream, sometimes. And there are no lizards in my heaven, at least those who violate my personal space, which includes my kitchen. And someday I will laugh about tonight--but not tonight.

P.S. I did laugh tonight, too.