Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Behold, the hippopotamus!

I woke up Monday morning and thought about what I needed to do that day. It didn't take me long to conclude that I didn't have anything on my must-do list. Knowing that the week was only going to get hotter, I decided it was the optimal day to go to the zoo. So we quickly dressed, ate and were on our way. I had the kids bring notebooks so they could write (Ainsleigh) or draw (Donovan) different animals they saw. This was one of those brilliant parenting ideas that makes me think, "I rock this mothering thing!" And of course, as those moments usually go, it was followed about 5 hours later with me wishing the day was over and that children's vocal chords wouldn't screech at such a pitch. But I'm not going to focus on THAT part of mothering.


Checking out the hyenas


And the lethargic cape buffalo


Taking notes on the bear


Dono liked watching the big foxes (technical name, of course)


Gemma is amused


This is the stuff I love


Clearly, that is an elephant on the left and a tortoise (with bird) on the right

When we got to the hippo pen, we were pleased to behold the majestic hippopotamus lumbering out of one pool, across an expanse of earth, and into a mud pit. Hippos are so weird. Leave it to Ogden Nash to best summarize:
Behold the hippopotamus!
We laugh at how he looks to us,
And yet in moments dank and grim,
I wonder how we look to him.

Peace, peace, thou hippopotamus!
We really look all right to us,
As you no doubt delight the eye
Of other hippopotami.


And as I stood, marveling at the hippo, I turned and beheld...the most enormous man I have ever seen. I am not even exaggerating. He was HUGE. A little bit taller than myself and equally as wide. And I looked at him. And I looked back at the hippo. And I looked back at him. And I wrestled with the irony of the whole situation. I mean, come ON. And, cruel as it may sound, I tried to get a picture of said man watching his animal kingdom equivalent, but it would only have been successful, had I made it painfully obvious what I was doing. And I'm not THAT cruel.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

You are a great mother! I love those moments too, although they haven't been happening so much lately with it being over 100 degrees and me being obscenely pregnant, not a good combo. The kids outing for the day lately has been to go get the mail while I soak up the AC. I loved the watermelon post too althoug now I'm really depressed. I live in texas (well that's depressing too) and I still can't pick a good watermelon. There is nothing more disappointing than cutting into a mediocre watermelon. Well, maybe eating it warm. Heather

Alex McMurray said...

Alex never fails to find a mullet and take a picture of it every year at the Nascar race. Next time have Donovan and Ainsleigh stand close to the person and then shoot away! I would've loved to have seen the hippo man. :)

janine said...

i'm afraid i have to revert back to the zipper top section because i am really perplexed. do you ever buy the bags of broccoli at costco. why the heck do they not put zipper top on that thing!? i think that i am going to write to the company.