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On the 7th Day of Giving Thanks

November 27, 2014 by Katelyn

We are the sum of all of our parts. For the past six days we have been sharing our gratitude for all of the amazing humans and organizations who give their support to the sanctuary in a myriad of ways. Each and every person we’ve mentioned, and I am sure so many more who we may never be aware of, has made the sanctuary and the lives of the chimpanzees what they are today. And for that we could not be more thankful.

On this seventh day of giving thanks, we want to share our gratitude for the heart and soul of the sanctuary and all that we do, the chimpanzees themselves. Words could never fully express the respect, admiration and love we have for Annie, Burrito, Foxie, Jamie, Jody, Missy and Negra. We are thankful for the unique personalities that each of the chimpanzees share with us. The joy and laughter they bring to our lives and for making us smile every single day. We are thankful for the gift and privilege of their friendship and all that they teach us about forgiveness, strength, courage, healing and choosing to live each moment to the fullest. For being themselves, always, and allowing us into their world so that we can share that with others in the hope of helping other chimpanzees and primates. And honestly, I suspect I speak for all the caregivers when I say we are even thankful for the flinging of feces and spitting of saliva. How could that be possible? Because it’s one more moment that they get to express themselves just as they are knowing they will be respected, cared for and loved just the same.

We are profoundly thankful for each of the chimpanzees’ indomitable spirits and their ability to heal, forgive, and allow humans into their lives, in spite of what our species has done to them. Not because this makes us feel better or because it justifies in any way what they have experienced, but because it allows them some sense of peace and comfort and to experience life more on their terms, as it always should have been for them.

We are thankful for beautiful Annie’s sweet, gentle spirit and her new found ability to stand up for herself and her friends when it really matters to her. For her growing independence, courage and comfort in her own skin and the sense of freedom we hope this brings her after so much anxiety and fear. And for “Annie-bird” noises as she whistles into her hands and clapping her feet together which mean she’s relaxed and happy, raspberries and foot stomping when she gives us the gift of her attention, and to bear witness to the amazing friendship she has with her best friend, Missy.

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We are thankful for Burrito and the heartwarming charm he so willingly shares with us just by being himself. For his place in a family of chimpanzee women who love him despite his boisterous displays and lack of appropriate chimpanzee etiquette and provide him a safe place in which he can figure out what it means to be the only guy among six ladies. And for the sound of his food squeaks echoing throughout the chimp house at meal time, for play faces, play stomps, play bows, and blanket tosses when he is feeling particularly playful.

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We are thankful for Foxie and the sheer joyful exuberance she greets each day with. For the innate sensitivity she shows toward her fellow primates, human and non, and her ability to make all of us (even Jamie) feel better just by being herself. For the growing courage she finds to explore Young’s Hill in awe and for her ability to trust us when sharing her “babies” with us, knowing she will never have anything she loves taken from her again. And for back flips, pirouettes, kisses given while hanging upside down, the willingness to gaze into our eyes, her toes (!) and the toe tickling that comes with those toes.

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We are thankful for Jamie and her astounding intelligence, willpower, and creativity. For the opportunity she finally has to call the shots and be loved and respected exactly as she is in each minute of the day. For walks around Young’s Hill and for the immense honor it is to accompany her on her perimeter walks and be included as part of her troop. And for “upside-down-Jamie-on-a-barrel” because it means she is happy, do-it-yourself Jamie who takes charge of her home, that she now feels safe enough to take naps and actually close her eyes and rest, and happy groans of pure joy when she receives a new pair of boots.

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We are thankful for Jody and what she teaches us about the value of comfort, relaxation and taking care of oneself. For her ability to now spend each minute choosing exactly what feels best for her. For the sheer joy she receives from foraging for every wild plant she can find on Young’s Hill, for the way she “holds the door” and gathers everyone up until she makes sure all the chimpanzees have come in for meals, for her “dinosaur” groans when she is particularly happy about something she’s eating, for “happy baby” poses while lounging in her nest, for sometimes poking us when she’s feeling saucy, and for her earnest gazes and endearing “butt-bounces” when greeting us.

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We are thankful for Missy and the fact that she finally has the choice to run to her heart’s content in every direction she can on Young’s Hill, laughing as she passes you by. For the athletic prowess which brings her so much joy after so many years living in a small cage with no room for her spirit to move. For her ability to wake up each day with so much joy that she and her best friend, Annie, play chase, wrestle and laugh like crazy before they are even fully awake. And for the leaping, spinning, swinging, jumping, and climbing. And for the way she gets us to “chase” her to the garden to ask for summertime tomatoes.

Missy balancing on fire hose

And we are thankful for Queen Negra and her ability to find joy and a position of respect in the companionship of her chimpanzee and human friends after years of solitude and depression. For the absolute pleasure she receives from the simple things in life like a nest made of sometimes over 30 blankets, the sun on her face, and days spent nesting peacefully by her window as she watches the valley below. And for hand claps when the servers are too slow, straw thrown in our faces when she really wants to get her point across, head nods of approval when we dance for her, the absolute joy she receives from night bags and for nuts and seeds on her belly as she enjoys those nightbags.

Negra looking at camera with night bag

On this Thanksgiving Day and always, we are ever grateful to all of you who provide hope, love, home and sanctuary to these seven chimpanzee people. We couldn’t possibly hold more love in our hearts for them and to know they are safe, loved, respected, and able to finally make choices in their lives is the best gift we could ask for. Please know that you all, in whatever form your support is given, make a difference in their lives.  From all of us at Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest, thank you from the bottom of our hearts!

The chimpanzees’ Thanksgiving Day celebration is getting under way now so be sure to tune in tomorrow to check out the fun!!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Barbara says

    November 27, 2014 at 1:16 pm

    Each chimp is special in his/her own way. I love them all. Thanks for all you do to make their lives happy and peaceful.

  2. nicki says

    November 27, 2014 at 1:16 pm

    I do not mind the flinging of poop or to spat on neither. It does not bother me one bit. Jackson and Herbie at chimps inc spat on me. I was actually okay with it. 🙂

  3. Jackie says

    November 27, 2014 at 1:30 pm

    So Beautiful!! Thank you to all of the people that are giving these very special beings a good life!

  4. Julie says

    November 27, 2014 at 4:46 pm

    Beautiful tribute to 7 amazing and unique creatures.

  5. Jeani Goodrich says

    November 27, 2014 at 4:49 pm

    Katelyn you have such a beautiful way of saying things. Thank you for what you just said. I am so thankful to be a part of the sanctuary and all that they do and stand for. Thank you to all the chimps, caregivers, and volunteers on this Thanksgiving Day.

    • Katelyn says

      November 28, 2014 at 3:35 pm

      Thanks so much for your kind words, Jeani. We’re so glad to have you as part of our chimp family as well!

  6. Lorraine says

    November 27, 2014 at 6:48 pm

    wonderful….

  7. Humphrey says

    November 27, 2014 at 8:04 pm

    So descriptive! I feel like I know each and every chimp 🙂

  8. Kathleen says

    November 27, 2014 at 9:28 pm

    Katelyn, you brought Annie, Burrito, Foxie, Jamie, Jody, Missy and Negra to life with your beautiful descriptions. As usual, brought tears to my eyes. Thank you CSNW for the richness you bring to all of our lives, chimpanzee and humans!

    “The purpose of life, after all, is to LOVE it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.” ~Eleanor Roosevelt

    • Diana says

      November 28, 2014 at 10:37 am

      Beautiful quote, Kathleen

  9. Brenna says

    November 27, 2014 at 11:09 pm

    Happy Thanksgiving to you all.

  10. Karen and Don says

    November 28, 2014 at 1:57 am

    These seven days of thanks, topped off by Thanksgiving Day, have been our favorite blogs. We have learned so much that we didn’t know about the sanctuary, what it takes to run it, the many people behind it from the Board, the staff to in-kind donors, to regular donors, to volunteers, and it has given us the opportunty to get to know each of the authors of the blogs (staff) in a unique way. Each blog was an intimate and in-depth experience which has been a wonderful gift. The gratitude expressed was so heartfelt, and we appreciate all of the time and effort that went into creating this idea and then producing such amazing blogs. We want to thank you all for your dedication, not only to the chimps, but to each of us and for making each person feel equally important in what they do to help the sanctuary. You guys deseve our thanks. We place our trust in you all, and you never disappoint. It is an honor to be a part of CSNW. Happy Thanksgiving! Karen and Don

    • Diana says

      November 28, 2014 at 10:17 am

      We are all thrilled that you appreciated the posts so much! The chimpanzees and humans (at least those without the stomach flu!) had a very lovely Thanksgiving. We hope yours with your family was wonderful as well. Thank you for being so much a part of the Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest family!

      diana

  11. lynn says

    November 28, 2014 at 2:22 pm

    ok Katelyn now you went and did it – you made me tear up at work. This is so eloquent and beautiful and true. Thank you.

  12. Katelyn says

    November 29, 2014 at 11:15 am

    Thanks, all, for your kind words. You make it all possible and we’re honored to have you as part of the chimpanzees’ (and humans’) lives!

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