Zoo Weather

Dear Jack,

When I woke up this morning and checked the weather... 55 degrees and light showers... I thought to myself:

Let's go to the zoo.

I know a lot of folks think that's not optimal zoo weather, but I knew I could bundle you and your sister up and you would be warm enough. I also knew that with that kind of forecast the zoo would much less crowded. But best of all, the animals would be out walking around, not lying down tired in the heat of the day like they will come summer.

So here you are, at the zoo in March, with a wool stocking cap, a hoodie over a t-shirt over a long sleeved onesie, jeans over baby legs and socks with Robeez on your feet, looking eye to eye with a lion. How amazing is that?

Also, because the zoo was so empty, at the otter exhibit (my favorite), I was able to let you crawl around and play.

You and your sister have really started to play together lately, and I love it. Today, you played a game where you would wait at the bottom of the otter slide and Sydney would climb up and slide down, gently knocking into you and you would fall down and giggle as she ran back around to do it again. After a few times, you would stand and wait for her and as soon as you saw her at the top of the slide, you would sit yourself down in anticipation of the collision. Fun times.

I was questioning, at one point, whether I was being foolish, driving in the, at one point along the way, pouring rain to go to the zoo not knowing if the weather would get better or worse. But by the end, as the rain turned to drizzle and you fell asleep with sheer exhaustion from the excitement of the day and your sister was beaming and talking about the fun she had, I thought what a way to live. Just enjoying the time we have together, hoping for the best, rain or shine.

I know you won't remember this trip, but someday you will, and I hope you appreciate the daring of driving to the zoo, hoping that the light rain turns to drizzle and not downpour. Prepared for either. Hoping for a time worth remembering either way.

Love,
Mom