Ordinary Wonderment

Peacock

So, like a forgotten fire, a childhood can always flare up again within us. ~Gaston Bachelard

What I've Learned: The Stuff of Childhood is Not Only Still Relevant--It Keeps Getting Better!
Last weekend was my 35th birthday, dear Reader, and as has been my custom the last few years, I chose to spend it doing something fun that I've never done before. Oh sure, I've been to the zoo many times, but I had never pet stingrays or had the pleasure of visiting the Butterfly House. So, despite being soaked in a sudden and fierce downpour, the fabulous Miss Kim, Aunt & I braved thunder, lightning and flooded paths to make a few birthday wishes come true at the Brookfield Zoo.

Thanks to a lab tech friend, we waited out the rain by taking a behind-the-scenes tour of some of the zoo's labs. We learned a great deal about poop, in particular. That is, zookeepers collect poop from an animal and bring it to the lab where scientists extract and measure specific hormones. The presence and concentration of certain hormones help scientists determine an animal's stress levels or if a female is pregnant. Fascinating stuff.


Polar Bear

Once the rain began to let up, we ventured out into the zoo to see a dolphin show (very much fun), pet cow-nosed stingrays (slimy but very cool) and then to drip-dry in the warm sunlight of the Butterfly House, where we were surrounded by Monarchs, Swallowtails and many other gorgeous, winged beauties. Quite shutter-happy, we lingered with the butterflies for a good while. Other amazing critters we saw included lions, tigers and bears (of course!), as well as primates from three continents, giraffes and sleepy wombats. All in all, a wonderful day reminiscent of my childhood visits to the zoo--but with a decidedly intellectual twist on the pure joy of discovery. Below are a few of my favorite zoo shots:


The Fabulous Miss Kim outside the Butterfly House


At the Brookfield Zoo Butterfly House


Giraffe


Peacock


Monarch Butterfly


Cat-napping Tiger


Pulling Your Tail


Mom & Me


Butterfly


Baboon

He who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe is as good as dead; his eyes are closed. ~Albert Einstein

Quotes courtesy of the Quote Garden.