We have a number of bike and walking trails that are beautifully designed around the lagoons and foliage that makes each plantation so appealing. The idea, however, of walking that close to where a gator might come calling at any given moment, makes me suggest to our guests that when walking or riding a bicycle, to stick to the trails around the golf courses!

When our youngest son came at Christmas to spend the celebration with us we always enjoy taking him on a tour of the latest attractions. Since my hubby is a builder this includes the houses he is overseeing the completion of, and to my joy the variety of graceful egrets that swoop and fly, the dolphins that swim, and the other wildlife that are so beautiful on the Island.

The Sunday before Christmas, after church we went out to eat, it just sort of happened that on our way home we passed the lagoon which had a nice size gator sunning itself close by. Since our son doesn't see gator's in the Chicago area, he wanted to get a picture of this wonder in the sun.

I wanted to keep on driving!

We drove up to the side of the road which has a lot of grass and a ways from the gator resting next to the lagoon, so Brian could roll the window down to get a good shot. But then he decided to get a closer shot, which of course meant leaving the vehicle and getting out. This was not amusing, but my husband helped him out one better, he drove the car onto the grass so we could all be closer to the gator! I'm hyperventilating and my husband is helping my son get close to a gator. I was frozen...memories of a day years ago and many hours of contractions and labor followed by his entrance into this world came to mind. What were these two wonder men thinking?

Now, it was fine for Brian to snap a few shots and get into the car, but before he could actually do that, my hubby decided to get a picture of Brian with the gator. So out he gets too! I didn't want to look. But that old gator wasn't moving, and yet I knew it sure could. I also knew that Brian was a fast runner, but Steve was, well, he was a few years and pounds older than he was when he scored his last touchdown playing football!! I decided to get behind the car wheel; I could move fast if Steve happened to quickly jump in, and I knew Brian would run forever, but I also knew I could drive over that gator if need be!

I'm pleased to say that the old gator only turned its head once and continued to sun itself while my guys were posing for pictures. I was wondering just how close Brian would go, but he was using caution, and my hubby was snapping pictures right and left. I could finally release a deep breath when they got into the car and we drove away from the lagoon and gator.

Once home the chip came out of the camera and went right into the computer. I told Brian to send all the e-mails he wanted that when he was done I was deleting the gator pictures forever. I think all his friends got one that day! I thought I had deleted them, and then I found a file where hubby had saved a few. If this had been a deer I would have been used to it coming to call, and helping itself to my delectable cuisine of foliage. But there is nothing pretty or nice about a gator, and it actually makes me wonder why the Lord made them. It maybe one of the questions I'll ask Him when I reach paradise someday.