THANKFUL FRIDAY

In the past couple of years my employer has added some paid holidays that are not observed by everyone. Meaning schools are open, as well as most business, but there’s no mail or garbage pick-up. These are paid holidays that I have to myself because Michael has to go to work and I usually spend those days cleaning the house. Last time this happened, I used the day to have blood work done. This time though, I planned ahead and sent a text to Nurse Jenn asking if she also had the day off. She did! So we met for breakfast and then went to the zoo.

We went to the zoo without children!

Our zoo opened a new aquarium recently and I had heard all the rave reviews, but I hadn’t had the opportunity to see it for myself. The Cabbage has aged out of being wowed with zoo trips and Michael and I never seem to think to go just for ourselves. We get free zoo passes all the time because we live in Jackson county and some of our taxes help pay for the zoo. The passes have expiration dates, but it doesn’t keep them from piling up in the magnetic clip on the fridge. I yanked out the most recent valid pass, threw away the rest and Nurse Jenn and I walked into the zoo for free!

Without children!

I know I keep emphasizing the part about no children, but seriously, have you ever been to the zoo with kids? It should be fun and it’s not not fun, but it is work. It’s work because now you’re in charge of carrying all of the things, dealing with snacks, hand washing, meltdowns, not losing the child in Africa, making the walk from Africa back to the parking lot while dragging the hot, tired dirty child. Zoo Africa is just about the same distance away as actual Africa. It’s the furthest spot on the map from the parking lot and no matter how well you think you’ve planned it, you are always leaving it during the hottest, driest part of the day. And children do not think it is funny when you start singing Toto’s Africa.

Because children do not have any senses of humor.

This time, we didn’t have to think about or be responsible for anyone but ourselves. Though, Jenn did graciously cart my extra camera lens around in her bag. We took our time in the aquarium and then wandered out to only look at the exhibits we wanted to see, like the elephants and the rhinos. Then when we were ready to leave, we just left. No one cried or whined or begged to be carried. We just walked ourselves out of Africa while singing Africa out to my car. It was positively lovely and I used my camera, both lenses even! I don’t think I’ve ever had a more relaxed, carefree time at the zoo and I know a lot of that had to do with the company I keep.

The photographer me is very grateful to have had time at the zoo when there was very little traffic. I could have spent hours with my camera pointed at jellyfish or that one elephant playing with a stream of water coming down from a building. There was not a moment when I had to wait patiently to the side for someone to get out of my shot. Okay, maybe there was one. The octopus, Arthur, was pretty active and popular, but that was the only time I had to wait my turn. When we got out of the car, I said “Now which lens do I want for today?” and Jenn took that question away by tucking my zoom lens into her bag. There was a moment when we were near the elephants when I said “Okay, I think it’s time for a lens change!” and those words felt so professional that I thought maybe I know what I’m doing. I even had my own assistant!

Look, I know that some people are anti-zoos and I get it. But there are zoos out there that do the zoo thing really well and I think our zoo can be added to the list. When you walk into a zoo exhibit and are standing in awe of the sites and accessible knowledge around you, then you’re in zoo that is doing things right. For me, seeing all of the creatures in our aquarium feels me with wonder and amazement. Our planet is fucking amazing and I want to keep it that way. I am grateful to have easy access to this kind of inspiration and I’m really grateful I have people I can share that awe and enthusiasm with.

EXCUSE OUR MESS

The Saturday before I got sick was a relatively warm day as far as winter is concerned. It was the kind of weather that makes people here head outside because it is January and they know in just a matter of days the weather will shift and there will be no sun for twenty days. And it will be cold. So cold. (Except not really, because global warming has actually made this winter the warmest winter on record). Knowing that it was going to be the kind day where we could be outside, we discussed the idea of going to the zoo. When Saturday rolled around and Michael ended up being down and out with the flu, I looked at the Cabbage and said "there's no way we're hanging around here all day in a house of ills!" The two of us went to the zoo. We packed a lunch and a backpack and marched right on into the zoo with no plan. I let the four year old be in charge of the map. 

We visited the polar bear. We sat on the floor in the new penguin house mesmerized by swimming penguins flying through the water. We had just decided to make our way to Africa when I looked up and noticed the Tropics. I said "why don't we go to the tropics first? It's right there." The Cabbage asked me what are the tropics and then I had to explain Brazil and rain forests. She didn't seem all too interested and asked me what we might see in there. I just had to mention monkeys to peek her interest. So we made our way through the tropics. As we reached the Gibbon habitat, I noticed a sign on the window: "We're sorry our exhibit is messy. We would not allow our Zookeepers to clean today" - The Gibbons. One of the Gibbons was sitting on a tree branch, it's shoulders hunched and a brooding cranky look on it's face. 

I couldn't help but laugh. I could just see the Gibbon looking at the Zookeeper's door with a squinty eye and handful of poop in one hand ready for throwing. I thought to myself "good for you Mr. Gibbon." How often have I felt like throwing poop on the next person to walk through my door to bug me about something? I think we can all relate. The Gibbon is just lucky enough to be able to act on those feelings. My next thought was "Shame on you, Zookeepers!" That sign is totally humiliating. For the Gibbons, of course. First of all, it's their house. It's bad enough that they've had to seriously move into this downsized dump compared to their original home. Now they have to put up with intruders coming in and "cleaning". OK, maybe that's not so much of a bother. It's really nice to have someone do the cleaning for you, but there are days where I'm sure the gibbons are like "leave me the f alone."  I bet they get tired of the constant bother. People tapping the glass all the damn time. Always being watched and photograph. The zookeeper is just one more aggravation.  

It was also tropical day at the zoo and all the habitats had been decorated luau style with grass skirts and leis draped over tree branches. It could be the Gibbons were just not into the idea of decorating their place in kitsch. Whatever, hooray to you Gibbons for taking a stand. Even if it meant you had to throw a little poop.