Honey B and her mother, Missy, are very different people. We so look forward to them being able to spend more time together and to be able to see the direction they choose to take their relationship with one another. But something I love most about knowing the children of the chimpanzees, or at least having their photos, is the gift of seeing the similarities. Seeing that despite only having had hours together at birth before being horribly and heartbreakingly separated, of having lived most of their lives apart, it’s still there, in their eyes, or the way they hold their hands, or even things that they like and dislike. Each other.
Honey B:
Her mama, Missy:
Honey B:
Missy:
Linda C says
Hi Katelyn,
Are these Honey B’s portrait photos from her first morning room sessions, then?
And do you mean they don’t like each other?!
Katelyn says
Hi Linda,
I took these this morning as she sat in the front rooms. 🙂 When Missy and Honey B first met, there was the same excitement and greeting all of the chimps showed one another. But after that Missy really didn’t want anything to do with Honey B, Mave or Willy B and she largely kept her distance, observing them from afar. Toward the end of the group of eight’s first introduction time – before the big fight – they were definitely spending more time together, interacting, playing, but it was still guarded. They have pretty different personalities, but they are both incredibly strong-willed and intelligent so it will be interesting to see what transpires between them whenever they have the chance to spend time together again. Just as it will with all the chimps!
Linda C says
Thanks, Katelyn….I guess that makes sense I mean, if they’re not gonna be nice to her BFF….well, then! Love her loyalty!
Kathleen says
I would just love to see a photo of Honey B’s father for comparison. I see a strong resemblance in the top photos, it’s all in the posture and the positioning of the hands. The similarities shine through, even in a photo. Honey B has a delightful twinkle in her eye, a spark. She is very lovely and yet she looks as if she may have a silly side to her. It is truly incredible that Missy and Honey B will spend the rest of their days together, whether they know/feel the family connection or not, they now have each other.
Linda C says
I see it in the shape of her face (nose/mouth) and her brow ridge, but it’s curious that I also see they both tend to tip their heads down and look up at you from under that brow ridge-in that sense, it’s in the eyes.
Lol, I’d guess her father had a longer neck….:)
Katelyn says
Hi Kathleen, I was thinking the same about her father. We were guessing that may be where she gets her lanky body from! Honey B will stare at you very intently and doesn’t often show a lot of facial expression so it can be a little intimidating/unnerving trying to figure out what she’s thinking (exactly like her mama!). It can be quite endearing though. That twinkle is definitely her sass and silliness showing through. 🙂
John J O'Brien says
It’s in the eyes.
Beverly Donovan says
I watch a movie that my brother in law made for his local film festival, that only showed my sister’s feet and hands. I realized this was my sister because her hands looked so much like our mother’s.
Linda Crawford says
That’s so cool! My father was the second youngest of 7, and I’m the youngest of our bunch. So lots of my cousins on that side have kids my age (I didn’t grow up with them). All my young life, people I didn’t recognize would approach me and start talking to me, then shift over to my mom. It was because they recognized my dad’s eyes…but hands, wow!
Thyra some Rutter says
First off thanks for these daily posts, I absolutely have loved following these souls since first introduced to them. Secondly, the Honey B and Missy story really resonates with me personally, as an adopted person at a time when the best way to give a child up was to not allow baby and mama to see each other, and to seal the records. A few years ago and 50+ years afterwards I met some of my biological family and I it’s weird, we are similar but also so different! We look the same, but don’t think the same at ALL- Some of my half siblings are like aliens, (as I am sure they are to me) so I GET what these two are going through. <3 all of my love to all of the "10".. I hope they continue to grow and can learn to make a family.. but what are families if not super complex, right? <3
Debi says
Hi Thrya, your comment really resonates with me…Twenty eight years ago I adopted a 2-year-old little boy from Southeast Asia, & over the years I’ve often wondered about familial similarities…Honestly, I don’t even normally remember he’s adopted because he’s just”my son” regardless of being of different races.
Last year we saw a Facebook photo of his biological mother, & I was literally stunned at how much they resemble one another…I can’t exactly explain why, but I was shocked by their sameness…Not only do they share many of the same features, but they’re so identical in size…very very petite…(to my son’s chagrin… : )
I’m happy to hear you’ve been able to connect with biological family members…It must have been quite exciting as well as downright scary…Bless you…
Tobin says
I am curious to learn if Honey B shares both her mother’s athleticism and her doctoring abilities (they don’t call her “Dr. Missy” for nothing). While I find it heartening that Honey B and Negra appear to have hit it off very well, I hope that Honey B and Annie can eventually become friendly to each other. And yes, it would appear that Honey B inherited her neck from her patrilineage…
Barbara H. says
It is a miracle that you were able to reunite mother and daughter after so many years. I’m sure they feel
the bond and connection and love. The sanctuary should feel so good about this reunion. I am so proud
to be a part of the community of donors and hope some day to meet/see some of the chimps in their
new home. I so love learning more and more about these beautiful animals. Thank you from the bottom
of my heart.