“People go to the zoo and they like the lion because it’s scary. And the bear because it’s intense, but the monkey makes people laugh.”
We are still in that weird weather pattern of lovely spring days and wintry cold nights. Last night there was a frost warning. The dogs snuggled with me in bed. Nala’s head was on my arm and Henry was next to my legs. I had the least amount of room.
Speaking of Nala, I have a story. On Tuesday night, around one, Henry came inside but not Nala. I heard her barking, and Nala is not a barker. I went out to the deck to check on her. She was frantically trying to get under the chair covers. I knew she had a creature cornered. I tried to block her but lost. Nala ran off the deck with the creature in her mouth. I could see bulk and grey and knew she had a possum. I wanted to save it but Nala didn’t cooperate. She ran. I went inside and shut the outside door as I didn’t want Henry out there. I knew if he got close to Nala and her prey she’d attack him. I sat in the den while Henry cried and ran up and down the hall. I kept checking out the door window for Nala. She appeared on the stairs but the possum was with her. She did that 4 or 5 times. I told her that if she didn’t come inside I was going to leave her out. She, of course, didn’t listen. Finally at about 2:30 Nala came in alone, and I let Henry out. He came inside and we all went to bed. The next morning they went out, and Nala didn’t find her possum.
When I was a kid, our boxer Duke was protective. He’d stand his ground if any one approached. Sometimes he’d bare his teeth. He was scary looking, but that was a pose, and we knew it but strangers didn’t.
I remember a trip to Benson’s Wild Animal Farm in New Hampshire. I have memories, some mine, some my mothers. I remember the elephant ride. The elephant sort of swayed from side to side. I remember thinking how high we were. We watched the monkeys for a long while. They were in a huge round cage. My brother got close. A monkey grabbed his arm and tried to pull him into the cage. I was all for it, but my father saved him. The next memory my mother told me. They were watching the big apes and one was spraying the crowd who were laughing at getting wet. My parents saw him pee then slop it into his mouth. That was what he sprayed. That was one smart animal spraying at not so smart animals.
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April 26, 2024 at 9:19 pm
Today we had a cloudy day with a line of strong thunderstorms around lunchtime. The high was a humid 76°. April and May are our wettest months before the gates of hell open up around the middle of June.
My father had a friend who owned a pet store. He enjoyed having exotic animals. He owned a baby chimpanzee named Dena. He would dress her up in various costumes and he earned extra money by taking her too kid’s birthday parties.
His sister had two sons who at the time were about six and four. She was watching Dena after a party and Dina was wearing a cowboy outfit. While driving her kids and Dena back home, they spotted a MacDonalds. She took her sons and Dina into the restaurant and they were eating burgers at a table. An employee, who was cleaning tables, looked at the two boys and Dina. The woman said to his sister, “You have two beautiful boys, and I feel so sorry about your other child”. His sister removed Dena’s cowboy hat and said, “I only have the two boys”. They were asked to leave. She told the manager that Dena was better behaved than her boys in MacDonalds. 🙂
April 26, 2024 at 11:16 pm
Bob,
We were in the 40’s all day, and it stayed sunny. Right now it is 39°, and there is a frost warning.
I remember when the Today Show had J. Fred Muggs, the chimp, as a co-host. He was quite well dressed. I looked him up. He was born in 1953 and as of 2018 was still alive. He is credited with saving the show. I had a chameleon when I was young. I always thought that was exotic.
That’s a great story about McDonald’s. That was a mean employee to say such an ugly thing. Too bad Dena couldn’t stay as she was so well-mannered.
April 26, 2024 at 11:31 pm
My father’s friend had a few Dena the chimps over the years. They are only docile and well behaved as youngsters. Once they reach sexual maturity they become very strong and mean. He had a deal with a rescue organization in Florida. They would give him a youngster in exchange for the older Dena. I remember J. Fred Muggs and Dave Garroway.
April 26, 2024 at 11:54 pm
I think wild animals ought not be domesticated. I didn’t realize they get mean, maybe they are sexually thwarted.