What is the value of a lizard's life...

I broke a nail today, saving a lizard.  The cost of compassion.  He was struggling in a fountain, no way to get up the slippery sides.  My colleagues ran for a leaf or some thing to extend to him, and I said, "oh, please..." and knelt down and scooped him up.  I put him on a rock in the sun.  Hope he is okay, but frankly, I stopped worrying about him the moment he was out of the water.

We go forward.  When I use "we" I am referring to my colleagues, my friends really, who are part of the creation of Legitimate Theatre.  (The title is not my pretention, it is what it is, so-named internally.  Every discipline has a language all its own.)  The dictionary says pretention is not a word.  Hmm.  I don't agree.  And if I am wrong, I think it should be a word!  (Hey, Shakespeare made up words.  No, he did.  We use some of them today.  The weird spelling of "rhyme.")

Off topic again.  Ah, well...What was the topic?

You may not know this, but "we" call all people who are not involved in theatre "civilians." Think we stole that from .. somewhere. Ya think?

So, the lizard.  It was a common garden lizard.  They are all over the place.  Some of them are not very bright, even by lizard standards.  Yet, they have great value, and we do share the planet with them.  Well, then, if a lizard is worth a broken fingernail, what then is the value of a cat?  (I've seen them kill and eat lizards, and I would risk much more for a cat.)  Then, what is the value of what I believe to be another sentient species, the dolphin?  Well... more than a random cat.  Okay... not your cat.  I would risk a lot for a pet, a companion.  I did say random cat.  And besides, cats can take care of themselves.  If you don't believe it read Kipling's "The Cat That Walked By Himself."  (or to move to another species... "Jonathan Livingston Seagull".)

Okay.  You got me.  I love animals.  But, I have to say, given the choice between my pet and a random child, I will chose the child every time.  I will choose the adult every time.  I say I am a humanist, but what I really am is a specie-est.  I think it may be in the DNA.  There is a point.

People are important to us because we are people.  We want homo-sapiens to survive.  Our DNA demands it.  (Even though we make lousy decisions sometimes..)  People talk about getting back to nature.  We are nature.  There is nothing else for it.  We are part of this world, created out of this world, protectors and desecrators..  again the dichotomy ... fouling our own home ... but it is us.  So we need to wake up.  And.. protect ourselves.  And move forward.

The "world" would be perfectly happy without us.  I am sure the dolphins would agree. (Oh, some of the dolphins would miss us from time to time..)

So, it behooves us (my students love that word, they always think it is so funny) to... oh!  You know.   Conserve, be smart.  JFK started a program years ago.  "Keep America Beautiful".  I say let's keep the world beautiful.  It is our birthright.  Don't forget we belong here.  Forgive me for quoting "The Desiderata" .. "You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars." 

Indulge me.  Read the entire poem.

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, 
and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible, without surrender, 
be on good terms with all persons. 
Speak your truth quietly and clearly; 
and listen to others, 
even to the dull and the ignorant; 
they too have their story. 
Avoid loud and aggressive persons; 
they are vexatious to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others, 
you may become vain or bitter, 
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. 
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. 
Keep interested in your own career, however humble; 
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs, 
for the world is full of trickery. 
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; 
many persons strive for high ideals, 
and everywhere life is full of heroism. 
Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection. 
Neither be cynical about love, 
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment, 
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years, 
gracefully surrendering the things of youth. 
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. 
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. 
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, 
be gentle with yourself. 
You are a child of the universe 
no less than the trees and the stars; 
you have a right to be here. 
And whether or not it is clear to you, 
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God, 
whatever you conceive Him to be. 
And whatever your labors and aspirations, 
in the noisy confusion of life, 
keep peace in your soul. 

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, 
it is still a beautiful world. 
Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

Thanks for reading, but, I need to sleep now, and, it has been wonderful spending this time with y'all.