The Defiance of Zookeeping
I’ve been feeling all intellectual lately, listening to podcasts and reading books, like real ones, with pages. Long, cross-country flights with shit for wifi will do that to you. I’ve recently become addicted to this new podcast, S Town, from the same producers as Serial and This American Life. Ya’lllllllllllll, go download it…NOW! In the second episode, our (spoiler alert) wrongly accused murderer makes the following eloquent statement about how something so tragic and fucked up could have happened.
Low down dirty shit like that happens when you hang out with low down dirty people.
That statement, serious Southern drawl aside, stuck with me. It’s essentially the redneck version of my mother’s repetitive edict throughout my teenage years…”You are the company you keep.”
The company I keep. I’ve been thinking about that a lot lately. The company I keep.
That book I’m reading, the one with actual pages and no battery, it’s The Zookeeper’s Wife. Soon to be a movie (don’t be a chump, read the book first), this tale recounts the lives of the Warsaw Zookeeper and his wife in Nazi-occupied Poland during WWII. I won’t spoil this one for you (too much), but essentially, they used the zoo to hide hundreds of Polish Jews over the course of the war. To ensure the German guards shooting the shit just footsteps away didn’t overhear a Hasidic name and get suspicious, they called all of their Jewish “guests” by the name of zoo animals. Antonina Zabrinski recounts that it was these “animals” that saved her from the wretchedness of the war, even though it was she who quite literally saved them.
We often quip “it takes a village.” In my case, I’ve decided it takes a zoo. The company I’ve chosen to keep are the animals that comfort me, keep me safe, secure my sanity, and feed my soul. Let me tell you about the creatures in my zoo…
There’s the hummingbird who wakes me many a morning with the sound of her sweet texts. She is constantly in motion, checking on each of her many flowers, and connecting their spirits wherever she goes.
The dove is a newer addition to the zoo. Slight of stature, with porcelain skin, she awes with her natural beauty, unaware of it as she may be. Easy to befriend, the dove requires little care to be content, but does not hesitate to speak up when her feathers are ruffled.
In contrast, the owl is an older, more established member of the zoo. She keeps her distance at first, keenly watching for signs of distress, and making her entrance only when the timing is right. She is wise, witty, and without fail, my most trusted companion.
The flamingo keeps the front lawn looking fabulous. She’s a diva on all accounts, but that pretty exterior hides a soft center, and her tears both for her pain and others’ are genuine. She sure does look good in a pair of wedges and some sunglasses though!
The Phoenix deserves that capitalization. On a ceaseless inner journey, she withdraws into her lair for months at a time, only to emerge stronger, fuller, and more luminous. She is the zoo’s most intriguing member and its most loyal.
There aren’t many primates in this zoo, but one big mama orangutan is enough! Proud of her butt, and rightfully so, she is a prankster and an instigator and makes it her mission to circumvent my serious side. Smart and sassy, she is an exceptional partner in crime.
Moving on to bigger game, we’ll start with the Lesbian llama. With spiky hair, a quick grin, and uncanny strength, she is a particularly beloved member of the zoo. She just wants to be part of the fun, no matter the circumstance.
The giraffe was an elusive creature at first. Fiercely independent, she is wholly unaware of her grace and beauty. She sometimes forgets to look up and has to be reminded of the abundance that lies just above her head. She is silly and inclusive and the zoo would be boring without her.
No zoo is complete without a tiger, or maybe tigger is more appropriate. By day, she bounces from activity to idea and back again with dizzying speed, hilarity, and energy. By night, the mania sleeps, and she becomes centered and focused. The tiger is usually quite amiable, but do not cross her. She does not show her teeth unless she means to bite.
And then there’s the polar bear! I have no idea if real polar bears hug, but the Coca Cola bears do and so does mine! There’s nothing like being wrapped in the safety and security of a true bear hug. My polar bear has the purest heart I’ve ever encountered, but he is feared by all the chickens lest they end up on his grill.
My elephant, who will be truly pissed that I compared her to an obese mammal, never forgets. She has been with me from early on, and remembers all of my most epic stories (I’ve got a few on her too). Our spirits are forever linked, and I know wherever I tread, she will be able to find me.
And last but never least is my spider, my Charlotte, spinning her web from the day I became hers with messages of hope, resiliency, and protection. While I don’t always agree with her guidance, she has never failed me, and she wants only to protect me from harm and ensure I am happy.
If you ever visit this zoo, you will see how many more animals lie within its walls. Tickets are expensive and highly coveted. This zoo is defiant. Its inhabitants rare. I have intentionally let go of animals that are unhealthy, require too many resources to thrive, or just simply cannot get along with their cage mates. I hope these animals, my animals, love the zoo as much as I do. And I hope they will always find refuge within its walls.
