The Adventures of Paisley
Blue
Yesterday I visited the
Woodland Park Zoo here in Seattle, by myself because CB did not feel
well enough to go. My steps were slow and I used a cane because a
couple of days earlier I had injured my foot, making each step
painful. Still, I was determined to use this ticket that had already
been purchased. I'm sure some people would say I choose weird times
to be stubborn.
As it turns out, I had a wonderful time
going from exhibit to exhibit. Unencumbered by whining children or
impatient companions, I was able to stay as long or as little as I
wanted. At one particular gorilla exhibit, I stayed several minutes,
and once the great animal and I were alone, I was rewarded with
several funny antics and an impressive display of climbing the
branches of a fallen tree, balancing, and raising arms outward as if
in prayer.
Further on I found a field with two giraffes
contentedly grazing the grass. From behind them, three zebras
appeared from the treeline, trotting towards an open gate in the
fence. Once through to the other side, they began galloping, chasing
each other, nipping at one another. I was amused and delighted.
Again, though, I was alone to witness this.
I visited the
lion and his lioness, who had apparently been sunning themselves for
quite some time, to the disappointment of camera-poised tourists.
Shortly after I arrived, the lion began scratching himself, then
stretching. Click, click, click went the cameras. He stood up, and
everyone became excited. Then he began to roar, three or four times
in one direction, and the lioness would roar back once or twice. He
changed directions until he had, it seemed to me, called all four
corners, with the lady lion returning each call. It made me feel
alive, full of energy, awed at the size and power of the creatures,
in addition to their connection with Mother Earth. Finally, he
settled down again on the rock, and they were silent once more.
I saw many other animals, insects and reptiles, but those
three events were certainly the highlight of my visit. I found
myself looking at the humans as the curiosity, instead of the
animals. People do the strangest things... and the animals simply
observed, or ignored it. In the end I was glad I had the experience
of going through there alone. Of course, given the choice I would
always have chosen to have my husband with me, but the solitary zoo
experience was one I do not think I can ever forget.
I feel
like I am slipping into a wonderful rhythm here in Seattle, where I
find adventures everyday.
~Paisley
Blue | |
