hullabaloo at the zoo

yesterday we went to the zoo. it was an hour to get there, and almost 2 to get back, so i wont be going there tooo often.. but while we were there an incredible thing happened.

we went inside the monkey house. and there was a huge gorilla sitting on the ledge of the window flirting with the children, almost posing with a smile on (her?) face. an opportunity we couldnt resist. since lucas is a shy boy, he couldnt just walk up to the glass and say howdya'do to this enormous gorilla, i had to very gently go sit next to her (on our side of the glass) and invite lucas to sit in my lap. so he did, and our friend remy came up to join the experience.. and everything was fine. i periodically made eye contact with the gorilla, smiling and making sure she was okay with this.. and she was. i guess she really likes the children. she even let my girlfriend kiki take our picture together.

but as soon as another woman came and offered to take our picture together, kiki came and tried to sit down too.. and WHAM!! the gorilla slammed her fist on the window by kiki, and with a huge gesture of displeasure turned and walked away mad.(apparently kiki didnt ask permission or maybe she moved too fast, who will ever know?) we were all quite shaken, so we went around to the next window. it was another view of the same gorilla exhibit. and we stood there marveling at them. one was basking in the sun taking a nap, a baby was toodling around having fun, and a papa was sitting sentry.















i was taking pictures of the napper (presumably mama) when kiki pointed to the papa and commented how she loved his face, so i turned to take a picture of him and he came charging, beating his chest! he didnt come to the window, but we jumped back just the same. and two minutes after he took his new position, the baby and mama came and sat down with her back to our window. we were just about to walk off when the baby climbed onto her mama's back and stretched up high to lean against our window, playing! i really felt like we were witness to something spectacular, i was so impressed. usually exhibits the zoo are so tame compared to that.