The Christmas work party was at the zoo this year, at night, in the cold. The zoo celebrates the holidays by putting out quite a display of lights, and it leaves some exhibits open (like the penguins and seals) and they keep the other exhibits closed.
There were no lines. No crowds. Five other people looking at penguins. There were three of us in the entire seal exhibit. And speaking of three people: I saw precisely three people I knew. I didn’t join them, instead, I walked by myself all around the zoo, got a coffee, joined a couple honking at the sea lions, thanked a little boy who showed me where the red panda was, and generally hung out at the zoo alone for the first time in my entire life.
So, that’s what I learned this week: I have a new favorite thing. Being alone at crowded places when there are no crowds. Like when I was alone at the King Tut exhibit in in the Chicago museum. Or when I looked out at Versailles after the thunderstorm and saw no one outside. And, most recently, this event at the zoo. I really need to find other ways to do it.
4 responses to “I have a new favorite thing”
In my past, my family would sometimes have an extended-family-vacation (everybody squeeze into one house and get along) at the beach. If it was raining, my brother would say, “Let’s go to the beach! Nobody else will be there, and it will be great!” and we did, and it was.
-Common Household Mom
CHM – That is genius. I bet it felt like your own personal beach!
This sounds absolutely amazing! That’s a fabulous memory to hold on to.. Such fun!
Lisa – it’s a thing at other zoos too. I think I saw ohotos of a Facebook friend at the Houston Zoo light night.