I was thinking that I should get in one more blog post before the New Year. I was going to write a general update about my beautiful family, but before I got to writing it, I found myself thinking of Harvey.
Let’s begin at December 26, 2011. My husband and the kids surprised me with a wonderful Christmas gift: they had all saved and planned for months to buy us a zoo membership. Our family loves zoos and has had a membership to the local zoo (whichever zoo happened to be local at the time) for as long as Hubby and I have been married. I remember that our most recent zoo membership expired on April 1st of last year – I remember this because I made sure to visit on April 1st for what would be our last visit to the zoo for many months. For budget reasons, it didn’t make a lot of sense for us to renew the membership because I was expecting our 5th child in October – what pregnant lady wants to take her 4 kids to the zoo in the summer? Not this one. So we let the membership lapse. I missed our visits to the zoo, but at the same time, plagued by pregnancy related nausea and fatigue, followed by post-cesarean surgery recovery and the joys (and trials) of caring for a new baby brother to 4 other kids, I didn’t really miss our visits to the zoo…
But then my family surprised me with that membership. Now that I’m healed from the surgery. Now that the baby has stayed with the babysitter a few times and actually liked it. Now that I can take my home-schooled kids to the zoo any time I feel like taking a field trip!
This past week was a great one! Hubby was able to flex his work schedule to spend a lot of time with the family, and we all enjoyed the break, which included visiting the Toledo Zoo. In our travels to zoos over the years, we saw many amazing things and learned many amazing things. Among them: zoos are GREAT to visit in the winter! Many animals are so much more active in the cold weather, and there are many less people, allowing visiting families opportunities not normally offered (Example: my kids made bird feeders as a craft at the zoo and loved it!!).
Being winter, some of the exhibits were closed. Other animal environments were rearranged from the last time we had been there, so we couldn’t quite keep tabs on our familiar favorites. We did notice that the Great Apes area was rearranged. There was a sign saying that the Great Apes area was going to be closed for the Lights Before Christmas event, but we saw the gorillas and orangutans, so we didn’t think much of it. Until we didn’t see Harvey the Chimp. When I got home, I looked in the Toledo Zoo’s newsroom online and saw that Harvey had passed away in August. It was sad for me; Harvey’s exhibit was one of my favorite stops at the zoo. He was an elderly chimp who loved little kids, and here is a video I have of him playing with my kids. I can’t be too sad though; Harvey died in his sleep, at the healthy chimp age of 52 – DOUBLE the average life expectancy of a chimp in captivity.
My other favorite exhibit at the zoo, the orangutan family, was also rearranged – during our visit we saw only the mom and daughter – what happened to Boomer (my favorite zoo animal until Harvey stole the title), the patriarch of the orangs? Such things are commonplace in zoos, and I’m thankful that I once again have a membership that gives me insight to studying the wonderful creatures inhabiting the zoo. As much as I mourn my old favorites, I will be looking forward to watching the new additions as well: baby Lucas the elephant, the new baby tigers soon to be exhibited, and the new addition soon to be announced to the public due any day! Yes, I have inside info! One thing I love doing while visiting the zoo is talking to the volunteers, and one was beside herself with the awesome news of an impending birth! So much so that she couldn’t keep it to herself, even if she was supposed to! Would I do the same if I was a zoo volunteer? Dunno… but in the meantime, a HUGE THANK YOU GOES OUT TO HUBBY AND THE KIDS!!! I’ve already enjoyed my zoo membership more than you would have ever hoped for when you planned and saved!! LOVE YOU GUYS!!!
I wish everyone reading this a very happy and safe New Year!
Here are tribute videos to Harvey the chimp – watch how he played with my kids! We will miss him!
Happy new year. Here I thought tangents was down again and it turns out it’s just my blog. Expired from inactivity? 😉
Happy New Year! I remember hearing of Harvey’s passing but must have inadvertently forgot to mention it to you. Sorry. Your family is the best… WHAT A SURPRISE!
What a wonderful gift from your family. I know how much you all love the zoo. I remember when you and I used to go to Brookfield. Enjoy your gift.