Oklahoma City Zoo | Confetti Thoughts

I hope I never outgrow the joy of discovering new things, new people, new experiences. I find myself, in my, hmmm, late 60s (GADS!) rediscovering things I remember from past years. I’m sure my perspective is different now that I’ve got more years behind me than before me and I’m not distracted by taking care of kids or working all the time. I’m more relaxed and more open to all there is out there.

Last weekend, I took my youngest grandchild, not quite 5, on a short road trip to the Oklahoma City Zoo and then on to the Sam Noble Museum of Natural History on the campus of the University of Oklahoma in Norman. I’ve taken my other grandchildren, but it’s been a few years, so it was refreshing for me to revisit these places again. Watching a child, you have to wonder what goes on in their heads…

Seeing a wild bird, a lorakeet here, up close, and feeding it… feeling it sit on your arm…watching a rhino baby nurse…or looking into the eyes of an orangutan…Is the concept of dinosaurs more real when you stand next to one?And doesn’t a strawberry milkshake help the brain process all the new experiences?I’m always looking for new places to go and old ones to revisit. And then I come home and wonder at all I’ve seen in my life. Lovely.

My 4 year old granddaughter and I went to the Oklahoma City Zoo last weekend for a little road trip. I love zoos and watching human families as much as the animals, so it’s fun to have another round at going with a little one. Our special treat was to see the 3 week old Indian rhinoceros baby.It reached 100 degrees that day, but, like all mommas, this one had made sure her little one was covered in sun screen or mud.He was still nursing, so he didn’t get far from Momma Rhino. Bless her heart. She didn’t look too happy at the crowd watching, but that had to be the least of it since she’d carried him for 450 days and he’d been 120 pounds at birth. He’s still her baby. And, what a cutie he is…One of the gorillas had a new baby, too. A little older than the rhino baby, but she was leaning over it very protectively when we got to the window. She watched the crowd then laid down beside him, watching her precious child sleep, as we’ve all done. One of the best part of learning at the zoo is getting to experience such tender moments with the animals. They love their babies and protect them just as we do. We learn that we’re all here on this planet with the same goals as parents…give them birth, watch over them, give them tools to survive, and then let them go into the dangerous world out there.