Lizard Impersonation

Lizard Impersonation

Noel Laflin

3-25-18

Many of us are recalling our time with Jack Schlatter and trying to put the experience into words either to be written down, spoken into the blinking eye of a friend's video recorder, or perhaps both.

You see, there's a project under foot to record those memories, express those thoughts, and remind one another just how fortunate we were to have known this fellow.

Some of us were lucky enough to transition from the youthful salutation of 'Hello Mr. Schlatter,' to, as we grew older, and much to his insistence, 'Hi Jack!'

Others, numbering in the tens of thousands perhaps, will only remember the former greeting, as they and Mr. Schlatter only met once when he entered their classroom - like an aging heavyweight boxer who has yet to throw in the towel - the large jolly fellow with a boyish grin on his face, a ready joke on his lips, and a bellowing proclamation, 'Hi there! My name is Jack Schlatter and I have the honor of learning from all of you today! Anyone ever seen my lizard imitation?' And faster than the blink of an eye, this funny man had crossed his eyes, scrunched up his face, and flicked his tongue in search of an imaginary fly.

Consequently, whether the classroom chairs were either large or small, the infatuation of those seated within had begun.

And though it might have been fifty years ago, I so remember that lizard in search of a fly, albeit on a younger face, and my own first infatuation with this remarkable fellow.