Tomorrow is Jamieween! The day we celebrate the honorary birthday of the Head Chimp in Charge (HCIC), Jamie. And in light of all the shenanigans and hullabaloo of the day, the wonderful Paulette Wrisley chose to sponsor a day of sanctuary in Jamie’s honor a wee bit early, sending: “Happy early birthday wishes to THE BOSS!”
And that suits us just fine because of course in truth, the spirit behind “Jamieween”, and Jamie herself, is much more than a day or a season, it’s the very heart of everything we strive to do here at Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest.
We don’t know Jamie’s exact date of birth, only, according to limited records, that she was born in 1977. Jamie spent her entire childhood being raised by a trainer who used her in entertainment and then sold her into the biomedical research industry at the age of 9, where she remained until coming home to Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest at the age of 30. And now, thirteen amazing “Jamieweens” since Jamie and her six friends arrived to their sanctuary home, Jamie is turning 44! I think every year that passes only solidifies that there couldn’t be a better day on which to celebrate our friend.
One of my favorite Jamie stories of all time is the time she stood at the top of Young’s Hill watching J.B. use the chainsaw to cut up some fallen trees. Jamie loves work boots. She’s also fascinated by power tools. And she loves to run around Young’s Hill with her human friends. Can you see where this is going? Yep! She tried to get J.B. to chase her around the hill with the chainsaw! I cannot express to you just how very “Jamie” that is!
Now I know some of you are wondering how on earth J.B. could have known that’s what she wanted, and as we’ve mentioned before, it just comes with knowing Jamie and communicating with her every day, just like when she gestures for us to put certain boots to go for a walk (here is an older video demonstrating this, but nothing at all has changed with the exception that we now wear PPE at all times in the chimp house). Someone asked the other day if there is ever a time we tell the chimpanzees “no” when they request something. It’s pretty rare unless it’s something unsafe for them (or us), of which this would be a perfect example, haha. Jamie probably wasn’t interested in any of the reasons J.B. declined her crazy wacky insanely dangerous request. But in my mind, because I know Jamie, I can see it clear as day and just how thrilled she would have been. Because, she’s Jamie!
What I admire most about Jamie is that she is unapologetically herself every second of the day and you always know where you stand with her. She can be incredibly sweet and equally terrifying. She’s a delight and a terror. She’s beautiful, silly and joyful, yet always maintains her penchant for the macabre (enter her fascination of looking at books about mummies, bodies, and skeletons, for one). Nothing…not.one.thing…gets past her. She knows all and sees all. She’s a constantly thinking woman who plots and plans and never ceases to amaze us with her intelligence and creativity. In short, Jamie is a force of nature. There’s no doubt in my mind it’s what got her through the life she lived before she came home to Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest.
Jamie is unique. Like no other. We could not have more admiration, respect or love for her. And it’s this very spirit that Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest strives to honor and celebrate in every individual who calls the sanctuary their home. It’s this very spirit which you make possible in all the many and varied forms we’re privileged to share. I don’t think we’ll ever be able to fully express our gratitude to you for that.
Thank you again so much, Paulette, for helping us celebrate the amazing person Jamie is!
Happy Birthday, beloved James! May you spend every second of all your days forward being exactly as you choose, equally dazzling and scaring the wits out of us all in the process.
