We’re so thankful to you, Paulette Wrisley, and your lovely big heart for sponsoring this special day in honor of beloved Missy on her 46th birthday!:
“Let’s all put on a pair of knee highs and raise up a tomato in honor and love for MISSY’S BIRTHDAY!!!”
Missy is a true gem. Because she’s a woman of few words, a rather aloof person who usually prefers the company of her chimpanzee friends to humans, doesn’t often appreciate being in front of the camera, and is usually zooming past in a blur, I’m not sure we are always able to fully convey how amazing she is.
Missy is wicked intelligent (we can see where her daughter, Honey B, gets it). She’s best friend to dear Annie, right-hand gal to boss lady, Jamie, and she fiercely believes in backing up her chimpanzee friends during any perceived slights from the humans, no questions asked. And if you wonder what that looks like, imagine her tiny, but insanely mighty body launching onto the caging, mere inches from your face, and kicking it with all her might while barking salty threats at you. I can assure you, it never gets less intimidating. She’s brilliant when it comes to navigating chimpanzee politics, and she’s the queen of defying gravity, daredevil feats of parkour, and seemingly aging in reverse. I always say I wish I could spend just five minutes in her body to know what it feels like to move through the world as her strong, graceful, beautiful, zooming self.
When we’re very lucky, she gives the humans the honor of allowing us to sit quietly with her and groom for a spell. Or of occasionally playing with us (even though she will rarely let on that she’s having fun, too, and maybe even initiated it), all the while pretending she doesn’t even see you right there, tugging on the scarf she’s holding tightly with her little runner’s foot, looking in the opposite direction as though she could.not.be.more.bored. And then all of a sudden, she’ll look right at you with a slightly intimidating deadpan stare (again, Honey B?!), then laugh, and zoom off, throwing you a last glance to make sure you’re fast on her heels. Especially if you’re headed toward the kitchen and there’s a stash of tomatoes in the fridge.
Speaking of which, naturally, there’s a mountain of tomatoes with Missy’s name on them and party plans are under way, so be sure to tune back later today to join the celebration of, and for, this incredible chimpanzee woman!
We love you so very much, Miss. Happy Birthday!!
That time Missy climbed onto the roof of Carlene’s Tower!
