You must remember this...the giraffe
I got to feed a giraffe at the zoo yesterday.
It was one of those moments that really speak to one's inner child. That moment of pure glee upon seeing the sign was one I hadn't felt since about childhood. Had I been five years old, I would have jumped up and down and clapped my hands. Instead, I payed my two dollars, received my handful of leaves from the snickering girls, and walked up to a gentle creature looking down at me in expectation.
There is no balletic grace in the actual feeding. I am not eleven feet tall so, in order to eat, the giraffe does have to spread its legs and lean down its long neck. Even then, it is still too high to reach and so its long tongue must snake out and loll at you in search for a bit of green. All of this with only the smallest of little wooden walls separating you. I suppose this should have scared me. The height alone should have been intimidating and, while I suppose giraffes are considered pretty docile creatures considering, I am not stupid enough to believe it is any indication to not keep one's guard against a wild animal.
It was pure delight.
This gigantic animal walking straight for you in the most dignified manner. Looking down and seeing you...her eyes so gentle and unassuming.
"You have a treat for me" she states and then blinks before leaning down and sticking out her tongue.
You hold up your hand with your offering and place it right in the curl.
She stands back up and munches and regards you with a critical eye. Not judgmental but wondering and looking and thinking. Then she reaches down for another.
Once all the leaves are gone, she knows this. Stands back up entirely and walks away without so much as a last look. This is not "rude..." just an understanding that you are now to go your way and she is to go hers.
And even though there is nothing exactly earth-changing in this moment; even though it is a moment based on "entertainment" value; even though this giraffe has probably not taken you into her heart the way you have taken her into yours -- there is a quiet sigh somewhere deep within your soul that says, "thank you."
It was one of those moments that really speak to one's inner child. That moment of pure glee upon seeing the sign was one I hadn't felt since about childhood. Had I been five years old, I would have jumped up and down and clapped my hands. Instead, I payed my two dollars, received my handful of leaves from the snickering girls, and walked up to a gentle creature looking down at me in expectation.
There is no balletic grace in the actual feeding. I am not eleven feet tall so, in order to eat, the giraffe does have to spread its legs and lean down its long neck. Even then, it is still too high to reach and so its long tongue must snake out and loll at you in search for a bit of green. All of this with only the smallest of little wooden walls separating you. I suppose this should have scared me. The height alone should have been intimidating and, while I suppose giraffes are considered pretty docile creatures considering, I am not stupid enough to believe it is any indication to not keep one's guard against a wild animal.
It was pure delight.
This gigantic animal walking straight for you in the most dignified manner. Looking down and seeing you...her eyes so gentle and unassuming.
"You have a treat for me" she states and then blinks before leaning down and sticking out her tongue.
You hold up your hand with your offering and place it right in the curl.
She stands back up and munches and regards you with a critical eye. Not judgmental but wondering and looking and thinking. Then she reaches down for another.
Once all the leaves are gone, she knows this. Stands back up entirely and walks away without so much as a last look. This is not "rude..." just an understanding that you are now to go your way and she is to go hers.
And even though there is nothing exactly earth-changing in this moment; even though it is a moment based on "entertainment" value; even though this giraffe has probably not taken you into her heart the way you have taken her into yours -- there is a quiet sigh somewhere deep within your soul that says, "thank you."