Have a Zooper Day

[Martin Hash]

Santa Barbara Zoo 2.JPG

While in Southern California, after a quick Google search for local zoos, me & my wife, Gwynne, my youngest son, Haven & his fiancé, Mirian, were off first thing in the morning to the Santa Barbara Zoo; we even had to wait for it to open. When we finally got through the long line, we were greeted with, "have a zooper day.” Not only was it the first time I'd heard that clever turn-of-phrase, but upon consideration, I agreed that it was true: I did have a zooper day. Haven had announced the night before that he & Marian, who he had met in Peru, were getting married 2 days hence.

Elephant Trunk 1.JPG

Marian had never been to a zoo, and she was mesmerized. It was clean, modern, busy & expensive, like what you'd expect in Southern California. It was also the first time she'd see an endangered Inca Tern even though she was from Peru; me too, and I go to lots of zoos. There was a penguin living life to the fullest in his custom orthopedic boot, a huge hit with my wife, Gwynne, who collects all things (pen)“Gwynne.” Personally, I identified with an elephant who takes a load off by sitting her trunk on another elephant's back. And my soon-to-be-groom son, Haven, had a huge smile on his face feeding the giraffe, even after standing in the long line with young children. A young boy, perhaps five, just behind us complained to his dad, "let's see something else, there's just bugs here."

Haven Feeding Giraffe.JPG

On the way out of the zoo, Gwynne got the idea to zoo-theme the upcoming wedding, so her & Mirian cheerfully browsed the zoo gift shop buying wearable butterfly wings, and animal tails for the wedding party. We also got animal-themed suckers & wristbands for the bridesmaids. Despite not being able to speak English, I suspect Marian also had a zooper day.

Butterfly Wings 1.JPG

[SuburbanFarmer]

Wait wut? You're getting a daughter in law in 2 days that doesn't speak English?

[Martin Hash]

Wait wut? You're getting a daughter in law in 2 days that doesn't speak English?

Wedding Story