I Love the Zoo but It Didn’t Love Me
Dear St. Louis Zoo,
The only zoo I had ever visited previously was our local zoo, which can actually be classified more as a farm. Maybe it doesn’t take a lot to impress me because of this, but I was very impressed. Your zoo is big. And where our local zoo houses donkeys and goats, yours has real wild animals. Sea Lions! Elephants! Bears! Up close and personal. I was possibly more amazed than my kids.
Though my favorite experience, hands down, had to be the hippos. To watch these giant creatures swim directly in front of my boys’ delighted faces, their squeals echoing across the aquarium. This alone was worth the trip.
Unfortunately, I missed some of my other most sought after exhibits. I was unable to see the giraffes and the zebras. The rest of my family did, however, and they took a few blurry iPhone pictures in my absence. Because as they were strolling through that section of animals, my head was busy spinning.
And that is really the point of this letter. I wanted to apologize for getting sick in one of your garbage cans. In front of the food court. I would also like to apologize to the innocent patrons who happened to be in the line of view to such a horrible spectacle. I am so, so sorry. Words can not even say. It was not one of my finer moments.
We do plan to visit again in the future, to hopefully see the number of things that we missed this time around. Like the stingrays and riding the trains, and I would love to witness the giraffes myself. Except we should probably wait until the weather is cooler, since there is just something about the sun and my blaring white skin that do not mix. That is if you don’t have a sign posted, banning my entrance.
Signed,
Let’s never speak of this again, OK?
I'm Crystal. A 30-something mom to 3 young kids living in the Midwest USA. When I'm not chasing my children, I'm a freelance writer and web designer. I like to tell stories from our days and share what we enjoy...
10 Responses
on May 31 2010
Ouch. You are a trooper. I totally would’ve made us pack it up and head home after losing it in a food court trashcan. I think you should get a medal or something.
.-= Kelly´s latest blog post: All she wants to do is dance =-.
on May 31 2010
Oh no! That’s the worst feeling, that sun-and-heat-induced nausea & lightheadedness (is that even a word? It should be).
I hope you’re feeling better now, and are able to return and really enjoy the zoo next time around!
.-= Crystal @ Semi-Crunchy Mama´s latest blog post: Outdoor Challenge Monday {Seaweed Soup} =-.
on May 31 2010
Oh my! That is definitely suffering in the line of Mommy duty! We went to the zoo yesterday too and despite getting there early it really was too hot to enjoy so I think we will be heading back in the fall when things cool down around here.
I hope you are fully recovered today!
on May 31 2010
Ugh. That sounds terrible. To do that you must have been terribly sick. So sorry to hear that.
.-= Marilyn´s latest blog post: No Pictures =-.
on May 31 2010
Hope you are feeling better. I don’t mix well with the sun either. I am with Kelly, you should get a Mommy Medal for sticking it through.
.-= Rudri Patel´s latest blog post: Limits =-.
on May 31 2010
Crap! That’s awful. I have an experience almost EXACTLY like this … at the Zoo and everything. Ugh. NOT FUN. Hope you’re feeling better now.
on May 31 2010
Oh no!! Thank God you made it to the garbage can, right?
on June 01 2010
The smell of animal on top of the heat would have done me in. You ARE a trooper. I hope you’re feeling better now…
.-= Formerly Gracie´s latest blog post: Tuesdays with Avery (and Ansley, too) =-.
on June 01 2010
Oh, that sounds like the worst! You are a trooper for hanging in so your kids could stay! I’d have been crying like a baby to leave.
The St. Louis zoo is really pretty great. Free and open year round. Awesome.
Hope you are feeling better!
Best,
Tina
on June 03 2010
Oh, oh, oh. Public puke is the worst…worse than vintage Sudafed head. I’m sorry and I sympathize! And I think you should assume that the other zoo patrons in line for the food court share that position.
Better luck next time! (next fall?)
.-= Leslie´s latest blog post: On turtle lore and stupid birthday poems =-.