Katelyn

There’s a lot to love about summer, but for most of us here at the sanctuary – not all, but most – the long spells of heat isn’t high on that list. So with the arrival of September, we usually get the best of both worlds with more respectable summer days (not this week, but it’s coming, right??) and the arrival of magical autumn days. That alone would be celebration enough in my world. But that just adds a special flare to the birthdays ahead this month!

Disclaimer: This is an even bigger month than I realized when I set out typing, so if you can’t pull up a chair, please feel free to just enjoy the photos of all the beautiful beings who we’re celebrating this month. 😉  We’re in awe and wonder of each of them every day.

First is beautiful, beloved Annie turning 50 on September 10th. 5-0!!!:

It wasn’t long after I’d come into the chimpanzees’ lives and they into my heart that Annie’s group gained access to their 2-acre outdoor habitat, Young’s Hill, for the first time. The first time any had stepped on the earth in decades, if ever. The first time seeing the sky overhead, unobstructed. As a still relatively new volunteer at the time, I wasn’t physically present during the enormity of that day. Understandably, they had no idea how things might go and with security a top priority thought it best to have only fully trained staff and volunteer caregivers onsite in the event of an emergency. A beloved friend who was here that day texted me a moment by moment report as I sat who remembers where, clinging to my phone. I have it printed out and framed and reading it even now makes my heart sway, especially those first words, “They’re out!! They’re all out together!”

All these Septembers later, we are somehow getting ready to celebrate Annie turning 50!! How is this possible?!

And in fact, this month (on September 20th) will be the thirteenth anniversary of her group’s first day on Young’s Hill. Whether you’ve seen the video from KOMO4 news of that day before or not, it’s not easily forgotten. PSA: Grab some Kleenex first. I’ve always loved this photo of her hugging Burrito in those moments in what I’m sure was a wild mix of excitement, fear, and reassurance (you can see this live in the video linked above):

After the initial days of excitement (Diana even noted in the blog that Annie seemed to be the one who spent the most time outside that first day), everyone took to the hill in their own time and way. In those days, Annie was glued to Missy’s side even more so than she is today, but she wasn’t as comfortable engaging much with the others, or sitting it out while Missy socialized. I remember so clearly one day Missy had raced outside to collect some of their forage put out to encourage them, but Annie held back. She seemed equally as distressed at being separated from Missy as she was at the idea of going outside with her. Sitting in the doorway leading from the greenhouse to the hill, eyes GLUED on Missy, Annie rocked back in forth with clear anxiety. It broke my heart to watch, but I also trusted Annie would get there in her own time.

And she sure did. Eventually, it became increasingly common to find Annie out on the hill all on her own, often at the furthest reaches taking in the view. It didn’t matter if it was a bluebird sunny and freezing 9 degrees and we had to coax her inside with gum when we began to worry for her, or if she chose to bipedal it in classic Annie-style across the snowy field, or if shifting the chimpanzees for cleaning was delayed by 30 minutes because none of us could find her, but knew she was on the hill somewhere even though everyone else had moved inside. And summer evenings, those became a favorite of mine. After saying goodnight to the chimpanzees and locking the chimp house up for the night I’d make a last spin by the greenhouse on my way home where I’d find Annie, in peaceful solitude as she sleepily gazed out over the hill from her nest. She’d acknowledge me, but her eyes never left the expanse of her hill lit up in the sunset.

Those became some of my most cherished memories of Annie because we’ve had the incredible privilege of seeing just how far she would come once she was ready. It speaks so quintessentially of true sanctuary, what it means, and what it provides each of the chimpanzees. It’s a story I used to share at most of the summer visits I led so that people could see what they helped make possible, how much Annie has transformed as a result of being provided a second chance at a life closer to one she deserves. I realized this summer that I never quite have time to get to that one now. The chimpanzees each have so many stories to tell now we can’t begin to share them all. Isn’t that a gift?

Annie and her bestie, Missy:

Annie is a kind, gentle, curious, and endearing person. She fills the chimp house with her “bird noise” whistles when she’s extra content, delights us with her headbands-as-waistbands fashion, hates snakes with the fire of a thousand burning suns and lets everyone in earshot know, screams like a banshee when wildcard Burrito blusters into the room (who can blame her), loves wild games of wrestle more and more with said wildcard, and has moxie enough for us all. Sometimes I can’t help but love the moxie the most. Why just last week I watched her stand toe to toe with boss Jamie and smack her during a strongly worded disagreement and as Annie is someone who is lower in the hierarchy, though we don’t recommend this line of action, sometimes our hearts can’t help but secretly root for her sheer courage alone in occasionally standing up for herself. Oh, and sandal season for the humans? It’s possible she loves our bare feet as much as we love chimpanzee feet. I adore her. We’re so grateful we get to celebrate this incredible birthday with her.

 

We also have the privilege of celebrating Miss Meredith Cow, who is turning 9 on September 23rd!:

Meredith is another endearing being with her own unique sense of independence and it’s the thing about her that makes me smile the most. (Which one of these is different? 😉 ):

Meredith and her mama, Honey:

Look at baby Mere! (photo courtesy of Farm Sanctuary):

Meredith has been through an awful lot in the past year. She was diagnosed with osteoarthritis and underwent significant treatment which required a lengthy recovery period with limited activity. In the midst of her recovery her sweet family lost Nutmeg, Betsy’s son. No matter the age, bovines are extremely bonded with one another and having grown up with Nutmeg we have no doubt his absence is deeply felt by Meredith. As by us all.

Despite everything Meredith and her family have faced this year she has been such a trooper throughout it all – they all have – and when she, Honey, and Betsy were ready to make their way to their summer pastures I’m sure they could not have been happier. They’ve spent all these weeks up there, lost in the tall grass and summer breezes, at ease, together.

As you may be aware, in most any other life, or had Meredith and her family remained in the dairy industry, none of these options would have been provided for her. So while we are full of gratitude to you, our amazing supporters who make Meredith’s life in sanctuary possible, we’re also full of gratitude for the privilege of seeing cows living out their natural lives with their families, getting to know them as the unique individuals they are, and for the hope-filled awe of seeing so many humans coming together creating a different way. For Meredith, for others who may be so fortunate, and for each of us humans. And for the longed for ripple effect we hope goes far and wide.

Gorgeous Meredith:

And on September 25th we celebrate Mave who will be turning 35! Mavie!!:

If you follow us regularly you know that Mave’s big news of the year so far is that after months of feeling too unsure to venture into her group’s outdoor habitat, the Bray, she’s courageously finding her way out there now! Here she is with Cy:

One might even say this has been her version of a social butterfly year. From day one, Mave has been an utter delight. We just had no idea that Mave with an even happier heart was someone we’d yet to see. Though a devoted half of her beloved “Mora” (Mave+Dora), she now occasionally morphs into “Mora B” (Mave+Dora+Honey B). We just celebrated her, Willy B and Honey B’s fifth anniversary here at the sanctuary and though we’ve said it before it bears repeating: Mave isn’t the same person we knew her to be five years ago. Going outdoors, making friends, going from being a member of a group of three to a group of nine, might sound simple enough (well, okay, that last one makes introvert me shudder), but it takes an enormous amount of courage for someone for whom these choices and opportunities weren’t always possible.

“Mora”:

Oh Mavie, how we adore you:

We’d also like to celebrate the September born daughters of three of our chimpanzee mothers, all of whom we are so entirely grateful to say are living wonderful lives at Save the Chimps in Florida.(Photos courtesy of Save the Chimps).

Negra’s beautiful daughter, Angel, is turning 39 on September 4th! She looks so much like her mama:

Annie’s gorgeous look alike daughter, Mariah, is turning 33 on September 19th! Just look at her!:

And Jody’s stunning daughter, Andrea (the 2nd), is turning 34 on September 30th! Oh, she looks so much like her beautiful mama. And while it squeezes our hearts, we celebrate seeing Jody in Andrea and knowing she is living a wonderful life at Save the Chimps. After all, Jody wouldn’t want it any other way:

And to all of you Annie, Meredith, Mave (and Mariah and Andrea!) birthday twins, we’re celebrating you, too! Thank you for being here everyone, and whether anticipating autumn or spring, happy September!