Mid-Week Funny: “Bugger Off!”
A couple of years ago, I posted the below about a trip to the zoo with my daughter and her friend. Yesterday, during a visit to the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (CMZ) in Colorado Springs, CO, we were brought back to that fond memory of “pink butts” with a similar experience.
For those of you who have not had the pleasure of visiting the CMZ, it is an awesome and unique experience. You are able to feed the giraffes; on a side note, have you ever seen a giraffe’s tongue. Whew, I had to insert a photo to give you a glimpse into what almost seems unreal. You are also up close and personal with the animals. The habitats are extremely close to the glass and a pair of mountain lions were literally 2 feet from us pacing as they appeared to wish to devour us whole.
As we wandered around, I felt a bit melancholy. It must be age. I was feeling sorry for the animals being caged. Of course, I have thought about it before but never so much. What are they thinking as we sit and stare at them?
As we hiked up the side of the mountain (another bonus at CMZ is you actually get to pay to exercise AND see the animals – it sits on a mountain), we came across the black bear area; both of the bears were resting in obstructed areas. There was a small group of people standing around, and one lady in particular who kept demanding quite loudly, “Please just get up so we can see your face. Just lift your head. Come on now.” This went on for about a minute as we stood and watched and unbelievably, one of the bears got up and it seemed as if she was going to grant the lady her wish.
Ah, not so fast. She kept up her urging as the bear began to walk to center stage. However, rather than turn around to give us a big smile for the camera, she abruptly stopped, turned to the back of the habitat, squatted with her bottom in full view and proceeded to urinate right in front of us. Now, this was not just a regular pee. This was the colossal pee that could have resulted from a winter of hibernation. We all stood transfixed awaiting the moment when the bear would stop and turn around for that smile. Of course, Mrs. Couldn't Stop Talking is continuing her rant of requests next to us, but to no avail. After about three minutes, the bear stopped and went right back to her obstructed nap area and lay down.
It was at that moment, that I realized exactly what they are thinking as we stare at them in their cordoned-off living areas: Piss Off!
I hypothesized this with my daughter (although I refrained from using that language) and it has brought ensuing laughter such that about every ten minutes she has said, “Mommy, remember the bear going pee pee?” Ah, pink and brown butts. Clearly, not just a freak of nature.
“Pink Butts”
Last summer was the summer of “pink butts” for us. One of my daughter’s best friends had visited the zoo and discovered the lovely pink bottoms of the baboon. She had come home and immediately began talking about their “pink butts” and then making a correlation between those of the baboon and her own little pink bottom. Her bottom affectionately took on its own identity as “my little pink butt,” We all got a chuckle out of it until finally her Mother declared that “pink butts” should no longer be a topic of conversation. It still occasionally crept in with the adults displaying that funny expression that ensues when you are trying to remain serious as you scold the children for saying “pink butt” while inside you are roaring with laughter.
Last week, during the heat wave that overtook Denver, we accompanied our friends to the zoo. It was free day at the zoo and that combined with the 70 degree weather meant that everyone from Denver to Boulder and Colorado Springs were visiting the zoo. As we became a part of the human wave that flowed from animal to animal, we finally came to the baboon area. Immediately, our adorable children began chanting “pink butt, pink butt.” My friend and I turned away for a second to hide our chuckling only to turn back around to see our “little pink butt angel” pressing her naked little pink bottom up to the glass of the baboon viewing area in an attempt to engage the baboon in a game of “I’ll show you mine if you show me yours.” She was positioned in complete mooning stance while my daughter stood seriously taking it all in beside her. “Pull your panties up right now” echoed throughout the area. The child innocently turned to her mother not fully comprehending the deed that had led to such a prompt reprimand.
As the seconds ticked away like hours, I glanced into the habitat to catch a glimpse of the baboon. I swear I saw him stick his gloriously large pink bottom up in the air in response to the scene before him and sashay away in a very arrogant manner that screamed “take a hike.” I probably just imagined that, but at that moment I wished that monkeys were a bit more like humans so that we could get his reaction.
With this whole episode, monkey see, monkey do took on a whole new meaning for us.
Have you had a funny zoo experience? Post click on comments below and let us here about it. And, if you like my blog, please subscribe below.
