My younger brother (I'm 31, he's 27) has several snakes & geckos, and I've got a couple of geckos, and while our mother doesn't really believe that they have as much personality as we see in them, she's at least able to appreciate the beauty, especially that of my brother's rainbow boas. I think that iridescence and color could mesmerize just about anyone, presuming they're not irrationally fearful. Last time we were all over at his place, she had said she was even going to try holding one of his recently born litter of rainbows, but somehow that didn't happen. I have to say it's pretty cool that she even considers it, though.