The Beth Lists
  • Homepage
  • Little Bear's Adventures
  • Diverse Dining List
  • 90 Notable Nights
  • Happy List
  • Quilt Adventure Blog
  • Not So Happy List
  • The Texas Twenty List
  • Mom's Picnic List
  • 18+ Dance Adventures
  • 55 Strangers
  • The Barbie Bucket List
  • 60 Celebrations
  • 57 Celebrations of the Fifties!



​55 Strangers

#28  A Man and his Monkeys

10/30/2012

0 Comments

 

St. Louis Zoo 1975
​

I was 18 when I moved to St. Louis and began taking advantage of the free zoo admission.  It meant you could go for a brief visit, just to see your favorite animal.

Picture
I loved the monkeys most, even though the cages weren't glassed at that time...and I sometimes had to plug my nose.

​Built 1929
​

I also fell in love with the old building that housed all the different kinds of monkeys.
Picture
There was something a little enchanting about every visit.


​Not a Raccoon!

I can't remember how I started talking with the man who was cleaning the cages one day.  But I remember his comment about the ring tailed lemurs.  "They aren't raccoons."  He said, almost sadly.  He wasn't reprimanding me, he was confiding...sharing about his job frustration.  He told me about the  zoo guests who teased and showed disrespect.  But he was equally bothered by their ignorance.  "It's so infuriating when I see a parent hold their child up and ooh and ahh over the "cute raccoons" when they have no idea how unusual and special these lemurs are!"
Picture
 We stood for a very long time as he wiped the bars with soap and water.  I told him that the monkeys had always been my favorite.   I can't remember our exact conversation, but he probably had to remind me that lemurs are primates, but they aren't monkeys.

I had the feeling that this man's job was limited to cleaning the filthiest of the zoo cages and yet he polished each bar with great pride.

​
​Zoo Visits, Since
​

Since chatting in the stinky primate house 37 years ago there have been a lot of changes.  
Picture
The primate house replaced the bars with glass and a new ape exhibit was built.  I've enjoyed dozens of visits with family and friends since that day I listened to the zoo man.

Thank you to the Man who cared about the Monkeys!
I never saw you again even though I visited often.  But over the years when I visited with my children, I was always careful to not call a chimp a monkey and I always smiled a secret smile when I saw a ring tailed leumr.  
​

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Picture
         FIFTY-FIVE
        STRANGERS

    To celebrate my birthday in April 2012, I decided to reflect on the past with a different kind of list.  I've met a lot of people in my 55 years, but I'm going to stop and remind myself about the strangers I've met.  These are  people I met by accident, not through friends or work.  For some  reason, these  strangers dropped into my life.  Even though we may have only spent a few minutes together, these people have never been forgotten.

    Each week, I'll spotlight  someone I met in the past, who in some small way, made me stop and think.

    MY GOAL: 
    Remember 55 Strangers

    Archives

    September 2024
    April 2016
    August 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    March 2015
    March 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    October 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012

    RSS Feed

    Categories

    All
    Amish Sisters
    Ann Arbor Street Legend
    Australian Professor
    Author/Scientist
    Bear Rescuers
    British Bus Driver
    Broom Woman
    Carnival Man
    Cellist In Utah
    Chinese Grandpa
    Clown In Barcelona
    Colorful Cat Woman
    Concertina Playing Surgeon
    Cowboy On A Plane
    Cowboy Poet
    Cruise Princess
    Curious Airport Couple
    Cusco Kids
    Donut Shop Mom
    Firemen
    Flower People
    French Nanny
    Garage Sale Guy
    Guide Named Pinky
    Hari Krishna Woman
    Haunted Singer
    Hoarding Woman
    Holiday Strangers
    Hopi Flute Maker
    Junkyard Kenny
    Kind Priest
    Laguna Beach Laundry Man
    Library Man
    Man In A House-truck
    Melon Lady
    Merry Maintenance Man
    Mexican Singer
    Missouri Farmer
    Missouri Guardian Angel
    Museum Guard
    Mystery Nun
    Navajo Vendors
    Oklahoma Storyteller
    Ozark Chair Maker
    Patient Policeman
    Pawn Shop Guy
    Pilot
    Porch People
    Resale Shop Lady
    Rescuers On Snowmobiles
    Rodeo Rider/Artist
    Sad Dad At Hotel
    Sailor With Bird
    San Francisco Protester
    Santa
    Shark Fisherman
    Singing Computer Geeks
    Snake Boy
    Survivor Of Hurricane Katrina
    Tahoe Rim Hiker
    Tiny Ranch Owner
    Tipsy Strangers
    Train Travelers
    Wood Cutter

Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Homepage
  • Little Bear's Adventures
  • Diverse Dining List
  • 90 Notable Nights
  • Happy List
  • Quilt Adventure Blog
  • Not So Happy List
  • The Texas Twenty List
  • Mom's Picnic List
  • 18+ Dance Adventures
  • 55 Strangers
  • The Barbie Bucket List
  • 60 Celebrations
  • 57 Celebrations of the Fifties!