Picking up where we left off on yesterday’s blog, you’ll know that Annie’s heart was full of adventure yesterday as she raced out on a solo trip to a snow-covered Young’s Hill. After making it up the snowy path which caregivers had shoveled for the chimps earlier in the week, Annie made a beeline for the first structure and climbed up to enjoy the view.
Annie seems to particularly relish such cold, sunny days and the solitude she finds by venturing onto the hill on her own. When we call to her she’ll often simply turn her back to us, content to stay where she’s at. And who can blame her? So yesterday, when Jody became excited at seeing Annie out there and made her way toward her, Annie wasn’t in the mood for company apparently and quickly made her way back down the structure before Jody could reach her.
I thought she must be heading back inside, but she stopped and gazed out over the expanse of the hill. And then much to my surprise headed out across the sparkling field before her to see what she could see.
I could not love this one (or Annie) more!
Cold feet!
Curiosity satisfied, Annie finally decided to head back to the chimp house where she asked me to grab her some snow snacks to enjoy (she was too busy adventuring in the snow to grab any herself) while she warmed up those fabulous chimpanzee feet on the heated floor.
It’s hard to reconcile the Annie from merely a couple of years ago with the Annie we see new sides of each day now. I have a very vivid and heart-wrenching memory of her sitting in the raceway to Young’s Hill rocking with anxiety as she watched her best friend, Missy, ripping and running across the green fields. She was visibly distressed being separated from her beloved friend whose side she rarely left, but was too uncertain and fearful to follow her. It makes my heart sing to see the Annie we know today, courageous, curious, joyful, more comfortable, and full to the brim with moxie and spirit in every step she takes. But I think this was always Annie. Your support of her and her family gave them something even more powerful than their lives in sanctuary. You gave them a path back to themselves. And for that we are eternally grateful.
Donna Oleksiuk says
Such a wonderful, heartwarming story!! Thank you so much for sharing this with us and for the amazing photos of her adventure. Feel such love for these beautiful chimpanzee souls as I get to hear about them. Your posts, photos, and videos mean so much !! Thank you !!! 🙂
Julie says
Thank you, Katelyn, for this glimpse into Annie’s transformation. I love how she walks bipedal!!
Carla René says
These are great. I think I remember you referencing this story of Annie being so anxious before, but I never tired of hearing it. I doubt any of us could deal with seeing the way they all used to be with how we know them to be now.
Question: Does Annie regularly make a habit of walking bipedally? I was simply stunned the way she traversed that fire hose in one of the last videos. I sat there transfixed.
<3
Katelyn says
Hi Carla, Yes, she sure does. It’s an Annie thing. 🙂 I never get enough of seeing her walking bipedally.
Carla René says
That’s very cool. I guess I didn’t realise, thinking at one time or another, they all do it pretty regularly.
Although I can’t imagine the Goofball, Mr. B. would be very graceful at it. 😉
I love to see them do it, too! I still can’t get her walking on the fire hose out of my head.
Thanks so much for the response.
Vicki Brabandt says
I noticed there were no footprints from where she was walking in the snow. Was the snow icy and hard? Or is she just that light on her feet? lol
Katelyn says
Hi Vicki – Good eye! Annie is quite graceful haha, but yes, the snow has a hard layer on top right now.
Carla René says
It’s funny–this reminds of something that happened in my writing group years ago. I wrote a short-story in which my main character was noticing something. “She loved looking out over the snow, the Sun now turning the icy crust into crystalline spheres that danced with every jerk of the train car. She held her sleeping son tighter. Such breathtaking beauty was ironic for the trauma they’d all just survived.”
One guy completely shredded me for it, stating that the snow would never, ever look like that. Worst piece of crap fiction he’d ever seen.
He was from Australia. I thought during our summers they had snow, and not only that, but when the Sun shone on it, it looked just like ours did, At first I thought he was kidding, and that everyone had seen how it sparkles in the Sun. Maybe not, but thankfully, another group member from the mid-West jumped to my defense, telling him our winters did, indeed, bring with them truckloads of diamonds to enjoy.
So when you guys look at the Sun shining on the icy snow again, remember that guy, and how there are some people on this planet who haven’t seen this stunningly-beautiful, and apparently rare phenomenon we get to take for granted.
🙂
Kathleen says
Oh Katelyn, this is so beautiful and your ending brought tears to my eyes (as your posts can often do to me!) when I read the line “But I think this was always Annie.” Oh my, just lovely but almost too much to bear. Toss in the glistening snow and Annie’s well choreographed exploration of Young’s Hill and I’m off to a get a kleenex. Part Two was well worth waiting for!
Cindy says
Amazing Annie! Making her own tracks on untrodden snow….with all that’s going on in the country these days, watching her relish her life with joy and courage is uplifting for us all.
Jo says
Wow! Powerful! That last paragraph made a tear fall, but in joy, not sorrow! Embrace the NOW, which is what they teach us every day, and be joyful and grateful!! I’m grateful to you all for the excellent job you do!! May blessings settle on you all up there and remain with you. Hugs to you all from California!
Pauline says
Amazing photos.. Hope her feet didn’t get too cold. Just lovely to see how she is enjoying life.
Cheryl says
What a great story and to see how far Annie has come and has as you said found herself again. Love seeing her walk across the snow hoping not to fall in. It brought a tear to my eye too. Thanks for sharing this with all of us!!
Elaine Reininger says
Is there something wrong with her one arm or is that how chiimps’ elbows are?
Katelyn says
Hi Elaine, I think what you may be referencing (correct me if I’m wrong) is actually Annie’s wrist which she’s holding up while letting her right hand drop. Chimpanzees have elongated fingers and a short thumb in comparison to humans and Annie’s hands are particularly long and elegant so that may be adding to what you’re seeing.
Francoise says
” You gave them a path back to themselves. And for that we are eternally grateful.” Yes, but YOU at CSNW facilitated our ability to help them and for that we are forever grateful.
Jillian says
I heard this in a program once and I wrote it down because it’s so true…this refers to animals being caged up inside buildings. (I inserted chimpanzees because in the program it referred to another animal.)
“They weren’t chimpanzees inside. They were waiting to be but they forgot how. Now they see sky and they remember who they are.”
We take their nature from them when we cage any living being. You have given it back to them. Thank you!