Did We Visit the Zoo, or Was That an Aquarium?
My family and I recently visited to the National Zoo, in Washington, D.C. It is exciting to witness the savage laws of the jungle, and to learn about how some creatures are in a constant fight for survival in a harsh environment. And that was just us, during the trip home.
The zoo idea came about because of three things:
The trip there went fairly smoothly. My wife drove, and the directions led us where we needed to go. I have to give her credit for her amazing driving skills because it is no easy task to pay attention to all the traffic lights (which are mounted on the sides of the roads instead of hanging over the center - prettier, but much less obvious to an out-of-towner) plus keep an eye on pedestrians fearlessly stepping into the road with an irrational confidence in our ability to notice crosswalks and traffic laws. We even made it in time to get a decent parking spot, which I had read online could be difficult, so I was starting to get suspicious.
We had wisely decided to bring our backup stroller because even though a tired child may physically be able to walk, we are not always physically up to the challenge of making them. I did get nervous at all the strain we were putting on the axles as we popped it up on two wheels constantly to make it up the multitude of wooden stairs leading upwards into the park. It was like we were climbing the pyramids in Egypt. The nervousness may have been because of the flashbacks I was having due to the demise of our original stroller (which you may remember from a previous post.) But we made it, and the twins enjoyed the ride.
The beginning of the trip went smoothly. Everyone had fun. Our plan to pack a lunch and save money worked perfectly. The kids got to see turtles, and toucans, and tigers, as well as more exotic animals like cows and chickens, which were also in the zoo for some reason. Maybe I’m too countrified (and, yes, that is an actual word) but it seems weird for there to be food on display at a zoo.
After we had been there for a little while, thunderclouds began to loom and it was threatening to rain. Somehow, we were caught off guard by this, despite having read the weather forecast that said ‘possible thunderstorms at 3PM’. As a precaution, we headed into one of the indoor exhibits, as did most of the other zoo visitors. At some point, one of our daughters informed us that she urgently needed to go potty. I volunteered to run her out to the restroom, which was a convenient 2.6 miles away, and headed out into the light drizzle that had started while we were inside. As we walked, it began to rain harder and harder. By the time we made it to the restroom, I was glad that we were at a zoo, and that there were already at least two of every animal gathered together in one place. It was a massive downpour. We got soaked to the skin. The napkin sized umbrella flap on the stroller may as well have been a screen window.
You may not realize this, but there is a limit to how wet you can get. At some point, additional water makes no difference. We discovered this limit. But we made it to the bathroom with no accidents, not that anyone would have been able to tell.
On our way back to the family, my wife called and they decided to head out of the indoor exhibit regardless of the weather, and meet up with Hayley and me. I think it was because of another one of the kids also needing to go to the bathroom, but in fairness, a child can only handle the excitement of knowing that, despite the fun of watching orangutans inside, there are elephants and tigers and stuff right outside somewhere.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned about having bad luck (or worse, Ring Luck,) it’s that no amount of preparation will help you avoid it. You may think that you have planned for all contingencies, but there is always room for exciting and new unexpected disasters. For instance, on this recent outing, I did think to bring a spare set of clothes for the girls, because accidents happen, and because they happen a lot more frequently around them. And not just bathroom-type accidents, either. Things like somehow getting themselves covered to the neck in mud from a 3 inch deep puddle. So I knew to bring extra clothes.
After the rain let up, I remembered the spare clothes, and proudly announced that at least the girls would be cozy and dry for the trip home, due to my genius! As luck would have it, however, I had the extra clothes in our non-waterproof backpack, which was on my back, which had been through the downpour. Also due to my genius.
Luckily, the wetness didn’t really dampen our spirits (You liked that pun, I can tell.) None of the three kids complained about being wet. Everyone had such a good time that we accidentally didn’t make it to the gift shop before they closed and we couldn’t get the kids any souvenirs, but no one seemed to notice. If you have much experience with children, you will realize this is HUGE.
Our original plan was to make it home in time for dinner, again to save money, but that plan got shot the minute we left the zoo parking lot. We all know that driving in DC is a nightmare, and we tried to plan accordingly (emphasis on the word ‘tried.’) But that’s a subject for another post, coming soon.
Therefore, due to our very eventful and stressful escape from D.C., we were very late and opted to stop somewhere for dinner. We didn’t really care where, specifically. After the chaotic trip out of the city, the restaurant only had to meet the following criteria:
So we found a place somewhere along the road home and made our way inside. At this point, I thought that we must look like we had just dragged ourselves ashore from a tremendous shipwreck, but convinced myself it probably seemed worse in my head and a passing stranger probably wouldn’t notice. However, I found out that my initial impression was correct when the waiter, making friendly conversation, innocently asked, “So, did you guys have fun at the pool today?”
Sadly, I am not making that up for comedic effect.
The zoo is not only fun, but a great educational place to visit. I learned many things on our trip. For instance: 1. Any given situation can only be as enjoyable as you want it to be. If you decide you are going to be miserable, then you will be, but if you decide that you are going to have fun no matter what, then you can overcome almost any obstacle; 2. While it may be important to have spare clothes for young children quickly accessible for urgent use, It is also vital to keep additional spare clothes somewhere else, preferably waterproof; and 3. A hot-air hand dryer in a public restroom does NOT function very well as a clothes dryer, and there is no real way to use them to that effect without people looking at you funny.
The zoo idea came about because of three things:
1. Kids love animals.
2. There is a major zoo within fairly easy driving distance from our house. And most importantly, due to the current economy and our financial situation,
3. The National Zoo is FREE.
The trip there went fairly smoothly. My wife drove, and the directions led us where we needed to go. I have to give her credit for her amazing driving skills because it is no easy task to pay attention to all the traffic lights (which are mounted on the sides of the roads instead of hanging over the center - prettier, but much less obvious to an out-of-towner) plus keep an eye on pedestrians fearlessly stepping into the road with an irrational confidence in our ability to notice crosswalks and traffic laws. We even made it in time to get a decent parking spot, which I had read online could be difficult, so I was starting to get suspicious.
We had wisely decided to bring our backup stroller because even though a tired child may physically be able to walk, we are not always physically up to the challenge of making them. I did get nervous at all the strain we were putting on the axles as we popped it up on two wheels constantly to make it up the multitude of wooden stairs leading upwards into the park. It was like we were climbing the pyramids in Egypt. The nervousness may have been because of the flashbacks I was having due to the demise of our original stroller (which you may remember from a previous post.) But we made it, and the twins enjoyed the ride.
The beginning of the trip went smoothly. Everyone had fun. Our plan to pack a lunch and save money worked perfectly. The kids got to see turtles, and toucans, and tigers, as well as more exotic animals like cows and chickens, which were also in the zoo for some reason. Maybe I’m too countrified (and, yes, that is an actual word) but it seems weird for there to be food on display at a zoo.
After we had been there for a little while, thunderclouds began to loom and it was threatening to rain. Somehow, we were caught off guard by this, despite having read the weather forecast that said ‘possible thunderstorms at 3PM’. As a precaution, we headed into one of the indoor exhibits, as did most of the other zoo visitors. At some point, one of our daughters informed us that she urgently needed to go potty. I volunteered to run her out to the restroom, which was a convenient 2.6 miles away, and headed out into the light drizzle that had started while we were inside. As we walked, it began to rain harder and harder. By the time we made it to the restroom, I was glad that we were at a zoo, and that there were already at least two of every animal gathered together in one place. It was a massive downpour. We got soaked to the skin. The napkin sized umbrella flap on the stroller may as well have been a screen window.
You may not realize this, but there is a limit to how wet you can get. At some point, additional water makes no difference. We discovered this limit. But we made it to the bathroom with no accidents, not that anyone would have been able to tell.
On our way back to the family, my wife called and they decided to head out of the indoor exhibit regardless of the weather, and meet up with Hayley and me. I think it was because of another one of the kids also needing to go to the bathroom, but in fairness, a child can only handle the excitement of knowing that, despite the fun of watching orangutans inside, there are elephants and tigers and stuff right outside somewhere.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned about having bad luck (or worse, Ring Luck,) it’s that no amount of preparation will help you avoid it. You may think that you have planned for all contingencies, but there is always room for exciting and new unexpected disasters. For instance, on this recent outing, I did think to bring a spare set of clothes for the girls, because accidents happen, and because they happen a lot more frequently around them. And not just bathroom-type accidents, either. Things like somehow getting themselves covered to the neck in mud from a 3 inch deep puddle. So I knew to bring extra clothes.
After the rain let up, I remembered the spare clothes, and proudly announced that at least the girls would be cozy and dry for the trip home, due to my genius! As luck would have it, however, I had the extra clothes in our non-waterproof backpack, which was on my back, which had been through the downpour. Also due to my genius.
Luckily, the wetness didn’t really dampen our spirits (You liked that pun, I can tell.) None of the three kids complained about being wet. Everyone had such a good time that we accidentally didn’t make it to the gift shop before they closed and we couldn’t get the kids any souvenirs, but no one seemed to notice. If you have much experience with children, you will realize this is HUGE.
Our original plan was to make it home in time for dinner, again to save money, but that plan got shot the minute we left the zoo parking lot. We all know that driving in DC is a nightmare, and we tried to plan accordingly (emphasis on the word ‘tried.’) But that’s a subject for another post, coming soon.
Therefore, due to our very eventful and stressful escape from D.C., we were very late and opted to stop somewhere for dinner. We didn’t really care where, specifically. After the chaotic trip out of the city, the restaurant only had to meet the following criteria:
1. Be located anywhere other than D.C.
2. That’s it.
2. That’s it.
So we found a place somewhere along the road home and made our way inside. At this point, I thought that we must look like we had just dragged ourselves ashore from a tremendous shipwreck, but convinced myself it probably seemed worse in my head and a passing stranger probably wouldn’t notice. However, I found out that my initial impression was correct when the waiter, making friendly conversation, innocently asked, “So, did you guys have fun at the pool today?”
Sadly, I am not making that up for comedic effect.
The zoo is not only fun, but a great educational place to visit. I learned many things on our trip. For instance: 1. Any given situation can only be as enjoyable as you want it to be. If you decide you are going to be miserable, then you will be, but if you decide that you are going to have fun no matter what, then you can overcome almost any obstacle; 2. While it may be important to have spare clothes for young children quickly accessible for urgent use, It is also vital to keep additional spare clothes somewhere else, preferably waterproof; and 3. A hot-air hand dryer in a public restroom does NOT function very well as a clothes dryer, and there is no real way to use them to that effect without people looking at you funny.
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