When I was watching this trio grooming, it occurred to me that humans differ from chimpanzees in the amount of physical closeness they have with each other, and that I don’t really know what it’s like to have so little personal space.
Then Honey B asked to groom me. She was including me in this important social behavior they were sharing.
I will never stop being humbled by this job.
Did I detect the sound of a human primate attempting to approximate the cadence of a chimpanzee clacking her teeth and smacking her lips while grooming? Well, it’s the thought that counts, and I trust Honey Beans appreciated the effort.
In addition to not making good pets, Chimpanzee disregard for personal space would not make them socially acceptable Minnesotans. With any luck, the craze for personal space does not seem to be a priority in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains.
Lucky you, you’re part of the “in crowd”.
Wow, Diana……an honour indeed to be one of the gang! Are you included in the plans for her next great naughtiness, I wonder???
To be included in their circle…..what a gift.
I’m going to go with what Tobin mentioned, our cultures. As someone who has studied languages and cultures my whole life, I’m aware that humans, depending on where they come from and what kind of person they are, need varying amounts of personal space. I’ve asked people from other countries what they miss when they move to the US, and I’ve heard people from Spanish-speaking countries respond, “people here don’t touch”. I spent time last night searching for an interview that Julio Iglesias did back in the 70s or 80s, when his English wasn’t strong (he sang phonetically in several languages). I thought it was Carson, but no. Probably Letterman. Regardless, it went like this: the host said something and the audience laughed. Julio laughed along, placing his hand on the host’s right arm. The host gave that touch the side-eye and the audience, picking up on it, laughed again. Julio didn’t get why they were laughing, but laughed right along and, you guessed it, put his hand back on the host’s arm again. This went on for a couple of minutes, and I’ve never forgotten it.
My friend in Perú and I joke about her husband playing nursemaid to everyone since my first trip, when I pulled up with laryngitis and a cough left over from Cuzco. As he forced some cough syrup down me, she told me he’d been really helpful when her father had… needed some help.
Or I’ve noticed that that one colleague at work is misunderstood by many bc he’s right up in your face when he’s talking to you (but it’s bc he’s hard of hearing). SNL has done several sketches on someone meeting their SO’s family for the first time, to find that they’re…..more “touchy feely” than most families. True, it’s hard to imagine helping a good friend groom or clean….well, parts they can’t reach or do themselves, but when family or good friends fall ill or are incapacitated, we often manage to overcome those feelings of embarrassment, and get to it. As someone who grew up in a family that didn’t touch an awful lot, I marvel seeing students hug each other right and left, and am grateful that I have never been in the hospital other than the tonsillectomy at 4 with its subsequent three-day stay, bc I’m Miss Independent and I’d probably be the world’s worst patient!
Yet, I’d let Beezus or any of the residents took a close look at my sun spots, and Annie can see my naked toes whenever she wishes!:grin:
HoneyB really really wanted to groom her caretaker. I can see how this could be humbling. I got chills (in a good way) just watching.