The Zoo

I love the zoo. It’s probably one of the most magical places to me. Not for me, but because of what it does for my girls and me. I have taken each of them to the zoo as they were growing up. It is the one place where I get one on one time with them because of the age differences. The other two are in school when we go.

It’s Ella’s turn. The days are screaming by. She starts preschool next year, so my days with her are at a premium. Soon, I won't have her in the mornings anymore. Mrs. Somebody will have her, teaching her about all the things she needs to be taught. Drawing pictures and making macaroni art. Learning how to write her name and reading about Spot. But for now, this is my time. Just me and her. Walking around, looking at the flamingoes. Laughing at the monkeys. Watching Nemo swimming around. Watching her hug my leg when the gorillas look at her. This is my time with her.

She loves the lions now. She wanted a picture of them so I took one for her to put in her room. She will stand there and look at them until I tell her we have to move along. Things like this.....it’s these things I will remember forever. When I am at the zoo with my grandkids, I will remember holding Ella while she stared at the lions. I will remember the very spot that she used to stand. I will remember her roaring at them in an attempt to get them to roar back

These moments are not lost on me. As I walk though the zoo with the littlest of hands holding on to mine, listening to her talk non-stop about this animal or that, wishing that these days would never end....these moments are not lost.

These days are not infinite. The end of these days is bearing down on me like a freight train coming downhill with no brakes. I can see the end, which makes these days even sweeter.

These moments are not lost on me.....but I am certainly lost in these moments.