Two viewpoints:

It’s been a couple of years since Jon and I have made it to the zoo—given the operations—but we finally made it back late last week. It’s always a good time, but it’s also a real challenge/good work for Jon’s eyes, as the animals are often at a distance and camouflaged.

The magic wasn’t quite there this time around though, and I couldn’t get a handle on why. But after lunch, between pavillions, Jon said he wanted to go home soon. “I have my own animal. I have Photon.”

I immediately felt how much he cherishes his dog, and how that relationship has made the zoo a more frustrating place. What’s the point of keeping the animals at a distance, where you can’t interact with them?

Before we left, Jon did get a camel ride in for old times sake and we dropped by Dinosaurs Alive! From years of living with me, Jon has an sense of the corny and he grinned widely when he saw the rubber covered mechanisms move around jerkily. I reminded him that they were robots, and he said “No. They’re just pretend.” So that’s how convincing they were. They couldn’t even cut it as real robot dinosaurs.

August 31/07

I went in the car to go to the zoo. I saw lots of animals. I like going on a Zoo Mobile. I saw a giraffe. I rode a camel. I saw a dinosaur. I ate lunch. I ate French Fries and Hot Dogs and I drank some ice tea. My favorite animal at the zoo is a bear. But my favorite animal is my dog Photon.

Jon