Sunday, March 02, 2008

Trip to the zoo


Last Wednesday Lindy and I joined some friends of ours for our first trip to the zoo this year. Now those of you in cooler climates please know I'm not trying to taunt you. It was 92 degrees here last Monday and I detested it!!! Your beautiful days are coming and I'm in fear of what our spring and summer will hold. Anyway, just have to share one story...

We were visiting the Africa section of the zoo and stopped by to visit the black rhino. She was in a pit about four feet below us. I hoisted Lindy up on top of the wall to see the rhino. Lindy was a bit fidgety and more interested in her friend's snack than the rhino. Since she wasn't interested, I put her back in her stroller. I must make a disclaimer right here that I wasn't pulling a Michael Jackson move and dangling my child over a steep edge!!! At the same moment I put Lindy down, I heard something hit the ground, noticed my child had only a sock on her right foot, and heard Lindy say, "uh-oh." Sure enough, I looked over the pit and there was Lindy's shoe in the rhino pit. GREAT!!! Now what???

Mrs. Rhino suddenly aware of something in her pit shuffles toward the shoe and picks up the shoe with her mouth. I am frozen with fear and contend I am not the best in "crisis" situations. I am envisioning the 6:00 news..."A black rhino at the zoo passed away this afternoon after eating a two year old's shoe." I am begging the rhino not to swallow the shoe. I really think she picked it up in an effort to give it back. It didn't work, so she put it back down. Meanwhile, Lindy is hysterically screaming, "Hippo is eating my shoe. Hippo is eating my shoe." Not sure why but all I could think to tell her is that it was a rhino not a hippo. Way to pull out the maternal instincts, Lisa!!! All of a sudden, I am aware of a small crowd gathering around the rhino pit and my screaming child. "NOTHING TO SEE HERE FOLKS!!!"

After a few moments, someone tracked down the rhino's caretaker and she retrieved the shoe. The shoe was fine, the rhino was fine, and Lindy calmed down and learned the difference between the hippo and rhino...

Of course, in my paralysis to act, I didn't take any pictures of the event but I did capture a couple of the day.

And people wonder why I don't fill my days with excursions and activities...


Lindy loved the fish exhibit...



Thinking maybe we should stick to safer things like feeding the ducks and birds!



22 comments:

Kate said...

Lisa,

First I just have to say I feel a LITTLE taunted with the beautiful weather you are having :-)...but I get that unbearably hot is headed your way come summer...so I guess we're even steven on the weather!!

I got a good chuckle out of your story...and isn't hindsight 20/20?? I am glad Lindy got her shoe back and it just made a great day memorable for sure!!

Old "One Shoe Lindy" looks so sweet!


Kate

Jenn said...

Oh my goodness! What a great story! Ha ha ha! I think (no, I know!) I would have reacted the same way you did. I'm never good in a "crisis". I just kind of freeze up and stare blankly. sigh.

We haven't been to the Zoo in a while. Garrison and I have been wanting to see that new African section. When we do make it, I'll make sure that we have our shoes on nice and tight when we visit the hippos (or was it the rhinos?). ;O)

"T" said...

That was so very Funny Lisa. Your a great story teller. I could visulize everything you were writing. The story should be called Lindy A Shoe and a Rhino. from the best selling series of The Lindy Chronicles. lol
Tonya

myra said...

So funny! Lindy will not forget this trip. Ha!

Julie said...

So funny! I love the things our kids do and the stories we get to tell about them. How blessed we are! And by the way, I probably would have have the same reaction--it is a rhino, not a hippo!

Cristie said...

Lisa ... what a hoot! Don't you love that you get to write down all these hilarious things that happen in the life of a SAHM and her child?! And those working folk wonder what we do all day. HAHA Stay tuned for the next episode of the Lindy Chronicles. I can imagine the scene perfectly! If Lindy is anything like Maliah ... the girl loves shoes! That pair will have its own memory and story forever. hahahaha
Cristie

Jcbaron99 said...

SO funny! You crack me up and you panic mode. I'm glad that you all were fine - including the shoe :-).
She also learned some things in the process which is always a plus!
I DO NOT envy your 90 degree weather because I definitely do not envy what is to come down there. I will take our 70 degree days here anytime!

Colleen said...

This is so hilarious....too cute!:) And to think after all that you actually got the shoe back! Life each day is such an adventure with kiddos!!

Jaime said...

A zoo trip you will never forget! So funny!

Sheri said...

This is just too funny! You'll remember that trip to the zoo for a very long time.

DiJo said...

Hilarious!!! I know it wasn't funny at the time, but I love the way your describe it!!!! Miss Lindy and Miss Ruby have the same pinafore!!! CUTE!!

Give her a hug from us!

Love,
Diana

Shannon West said...

oh my! what a story! I know exactly the spot you're talking about - Anna doesn't like to stand there because she feels like she's too close

we haven't been to the zoo in awhile, but we got passes for Christmas... we'll have to plan an outing together!

Danielle Moss said...

Ok, that is pretty funny. I'm sure you weren't laughing at the time, but looking back, don't you think it's a great story?

I'm glad you got Lindy's shoe back. You should definitely save those shoes when she grows out of them. ;)

It has been pretty warm here (has hit the high 70s) but not in the 90s. Ugh. I can't stand it when it's that hot. I also keep wondering what summer is going to hold...

Hope we can catch up soon.

Danielle

Heather said...

Lis - I am laughing out loud, actually spit out a piece of cookie, I was laughing so hard (sorry for the visual, but this really made me giggle!)

You are so fun, wish I could have been there with you - I would have been the one daring the rhino to eat the shoe. Kind of sweet she wanted to give Lindy's shoe back. So, how is Lindy? Any permanaent damage? Shoe dreams, shoes with horns??? It's the psychologist in me:)

Glad that overall it was a greta day...Lindy looks so incredibly cute in her pinafores, I guess I better visit Etsy, huh?

Thanks so much for sharing, best laugh I have had all week!

Love you!
Heather

mommy24treasures said...

oh that was funny Lisa :)
Our visits to the zoo are boring compared to yours/
Wow 92? I have to say I love the heat compared to the cold, even the smouldering yuck heat. I just detest winter.

Jill said...

too funny. i wouldn't have even thought about the animal...i would have just been worried about the shoe. :)

Cammie said...

That is such a great story!!!

Rhino...hippo...they are both large and grey...close enough!

Anonymous said...

A new classic tale has been born! Looking forward to more.... :)

Karen said...

I am just cracking up at this story, which I must add that you're a fantastic storyteller. So happy to hear Lindy got her shoe back and you weren't on the news.

Feel free to send your warm weather our way, today we have freezing rain and light snow. I'm hoping spring is just around the corner. Have a great week!

Karen

Jill said...

Hi Lisa,

Thanks for stopping by. It is a samll world, I know Matt Stump. We graduated the same year!

Are you friends with Danielle? My parents live in SA and she mentioned you live there.

The zoo story is pretty funny. I'm glad you got Lindy's shoe back. I would be upset if a rhino was trying to eat my shoe, too!

Somewhere In The Sun said...

Thank you so very much for the laugh today!! I actually laughed out loud when I read that you told her it was a rhino and not a hippo! Hilarious!!! It's funny how you freeze up at certain moments. Glad all turned out well. And you got some great pictures!

~Lynn

sheryl said...

LOL!!! This is definitely a story to go down in your family books! We are going to the zoo in the next week, as soon as we have some stable warm weather. I will be thinking of you and making sure Linzi's shoes are tied tight. :D

Sheryl