Since Anna included it in her Top 10 Sanctuary Videos of 2020, you may have been reminded recently of the video of J.B. and I in the gator racing Jamie at sunset. Thanks to J.B.’s transcription, you know I said, “This is the weirdest job.”
That’s true, in many ways.
The weird, however, has a way of becoming quite routine round here.
Jamie now frequently asks us to get the gator so she can race it, or us in it, or maybe just the boots we are wearing while driving it, around the hill.
Today, she made this request of Kelsi as they were starting off on a walk (you just need to know Jamie and how to interpret her gestures to know what she’s asking for – it’s a learning curve).
Kelsi ran back into the barn and started up the gator and Jamie took off at a sprint to get a head start. This time Burrito, Missy, Annie, and Jody joined the race. I climbed up to the observation deck to get a few photos.
Later in the day, Mave was having me play a fun game of chase where she ran around the mezzanine and I went from the human area of the mezzanine, downstairs via the rungs, through the door into the new getting-closer-to-being-finished playrooms, and upstairs to the window, where she was waiting for me.
She thought this was great fun.
While I was playing with Mave, I looked out one of the upstairs playroom windows, which have great views of the hill. Honey B was in the chute and spotted me through the window, so then she and I played a little game of chase where she ran back and forth in the chute and I went from one window to another.
Like J.B. yesterday, my batteries seemed to run out at an alarmingly accelerated pace compared to the chimpanzees.
It was all kind of weird, kind of routine, and very special at the same time.
What fun, I love all the chase stories, But what will you do when Jamie requests to drive the Gator ?
I just know its coming 🙂
I was thinking the same thing Ms CeeCee! I picture her even settling for a ride in new boots in the back hanging on tightly and gesturing ‘faster! faster!’. Lol
Pity she can’t have a Barbie car
I wish I had a fraction of the energy the chimps have, heck, I’d like a fraction of the energy all the caregivers have. Oh well, I get to sit and relax and watch all the fun. By the way, Mave has beautiful teeth!
She does, doesn’t she!?
What an amazing life it is at the sanctuary. Thank you for allowing us to share it with you.
Great photos, especially that close-up of Mave. What a beautiful face.
Speaking of Anna’s Top Ten Videos list of the previous year, I think that such a list would be remiss without at least honorable mention of the video, “Mave Plays with a Ghostly Visitor”. I was enthrall to the suspense! And what a surprise ending?!
Which video is this with Mave and ghostly visitor?
The video was posted on December 3rd. It is full of suspense and has a surprise ending!
Great juxtaposed weird and wonderful descriptions. Thanks Diana… It’s so precious to know each as individuals.. as well as how each caregiver’s individual personality comes into focus in the descriptions… It’s exciting anticipating the new Californians.. but it’s good each group comes at very separated times so we “watchers” can assimilate the individuals before more arrive… I’m immersed in taking in each of them… and will be with the new kids too. Hugs and appreciation to all!
Hi Diana,
Would that all of our lives were so weird and wonderful! Probably never the same day twice, you’re doing what you love, and people are always happy to see you show up in the morning!
That being said….you two probably haven’t had a vacation in years!
I’m as excited as everyone else for the new gang, but these posts have me thinking…since not only Jamie but now Bubba is doing several walks a day on the hill, how will you time that with the new crowd, once everything is finished? Do you think they’ll all be able to have unlimited access to their areas all day? Will they be able to see each other, and just have to scream it out? (Though I’m always picturing Jo’s cute little finger waggle, too).
It is always so much fun to hear about the weird routine kinda normal stories. It fits right in to my world and makes me laugh. Thank you for the photos and your descriptions Diana. They’re the best.
Weird? Maybe. But isn’t most of life a little weird? I think your weird routine is wild and incredibly wonderful. You are witness to runs with the gator. Hanging with BFF’s. Hanging alone. Hanging a relaxed dropped lip. Playing chase. Laughing, running, playing, eating, tickling, boot selecting, laughing, books, foraging, skateboarding, laughing, forts, faith bagging, nesting and going to sleep so you can awake and do it all over again. Nothing weird there.
Correction : “nut bagging” not “faith bagging” (I have no idea how that happened?!)
It’s really fun for me that I am recognizing individual chimps. I can identify Mave, Burrito, Negra and sometimes Willy B. The girls I need help with, and I appreciate you labeling the photos and videos so I can tell who’s who. I’m sure it’s much easier if you can see them moving in their own individual ways. It must be very special for all of them to receive attention from you and your co-caretakers, an affirmation that they are seen, they are valued, they are safe.
Yay, Betsy! It just takes practice!
With faces, start with freckles: Jamie, Negra, Missy have them, Foxie, Jo and Annie don’t.
Negra you can distinguish. Jamie has less hair on top, Missy’s is k8nd of parted down the middle (plus, she has the short neck, and the gray spot on her back).
Annie has the “bedhead” and really long hands, and both ears, the roundest mouth with less gray.
Foxie is now missing part of an ear, has more gray by her mouth, and is more likely to look straight at the camera. Jo has a longer face and what I call “gargoyle ears”.