There is a nursery in New Tazewell that sold lawn ornaments as well as regular nursery items like potted flowers and vegetable flats. I saw the cement alligator there when I bought some vegetable plants. I wanted that gater. It would be perfect to sit atop the snake pit down by the lower driveway.

When my son Rick asked what I wanted for Mother's Day, I promptly said "alligator." My daughter Elizabeth shared the cost. I felt it was worth the fifty dollars they asked for it. Rick and Elizabeth didn't agree but bought it for me anyway.

Home and set in place, the gater needed some embellishment. I painted his eyes black and tried to give him white teeth, but cement doesn't accept paint very well. He did accept a plastic dog collar (large size). A white plastic chain made in China would ensure this fearsome reptile would stay home and not terrorize the neighborhood.

Several times I have seen people stop and take his picture. After all, you don't usually see alligators in Tennessee. My gater stays outside in the sun and the rain. Snow, too. He has adapted very well to the Tennessee climate. Even in the snow, he has a smile on his ugly face. If we should ever move, he will go with us.