Over Labor Day weekend we took the high road and drove over to Sacramento – Roseville actually. While passing a ton of traffic travelling in the opposite direction, Sammy amused us all (Scott, my mother, our niece Keirra and myself) by mimicing a shrunken head on a computer game we play. It says something like, “Dim-a-dim-boo-do!” and then bursts into flames. Sammy simulates this with a sweeping hand upwards in front of his face. (Don’t worry folks – I really doubt Sammy is going to mimic “Jack-ass” with a fiery stunt.) We arrived in Roseville around seven in the evening and headed right over to our Best Western Inn – threw our stuff into our room and dashed over to the Old Spaghetti Factory – yum!

Our purpose for the trip was to visit family I haven’t seen in forever, and to take a nice trip to the Sacramento Zoo. Friday night was mostly driving and eating – we stopped by my aunt’s house to say, “Hi, we’re here!” and pick up some extremely yummy home-made peanut butter cookies – back off, they’re mine! *growl*

Saturday morning we didn’t wake up as bright and early as we would have liked, but sleep seemed to be more important. It was still an early rise and shine as one by one we got up and got ready to head out for a day at the zoo! My mother did not want to take the zoo on, so she stayed behind in Roseville with her big sister. The day was hot and sticky – but the zoo made it worth it. Sammy picked the jeep safari stroller and we were off to explore the unknown… We came upon two of the most feared creatures in the animal kingdom – snakes! Yes, I let Sammy pet them!

I think snakes are awesome creatures and I would own one – if I didn’t have to feed it other live (or frozen) animals. We petted the cute little snakes and moved on to the singing monkey – it had a beautiful voice! It probably wasn’t a “monkey” but it was a cousin. We saw a few more animals at a little show they put on – corny, but cute. It was funny because the zoologist’s name was “Sam.” Our Sammy was channeling the monkeys as he jumped, ran around and screamed during the whole show… yeah. After the show the kids got to make some groovy butterflies out of coffee filters, clothespins, markers and a little water.

We made our way around to see the large cats, and they all seemed to be taking a siesta. We saw the sleeping tiger and thought we might get a lucky view from a little windowed landing behind where the tiger was sleeping. We got over to the window and couldn’t see the tiger, and just as we were going to give up, the tiger got up and walked past us, around and out of sight again. I had Sammy standing on the ledge with his face pressed up against the glass looking for the tiger, and we started to figure it had found another cozy spot and went back to sleep. I was just tightening my hold around my tiny little fella when all of a sudden the enormous tiger’s head was nose to nose with Sammy! The tiger paused there and Sammy’s body tightened as they looked into each other’s eyes.

My basic instinct was to snatch Sammy away from the window – protecting my young. I was quick to realize that it was not only an awesome moment in Sammy’s little life, but there was a thick window between the two of them. Had Sammy moved or motioned that he was uncomfortable – I would have had him tight and safe within my embrace and away from the giant face staring at him. The moment Sammy and the tiger shared was breathtaking and I hope that whatever held them locked in each other’s gaze will follow Sammy always and stay deep within his heart forever. The tiger finally broke away, mostly because a wave of children came smashing to the window to see the tiger, and he laid back down to finish his afternoon nap. I believe strongly in fate and I feel Sammy was meant to be standing at that window all alone right then and there – and who knows, maybe the future will answer why?

The tiger was the most exciting part of our day, but the angry monkey was the most interesting. Guys – this one is for you! There is this angry monkey who sits in a cage, all alone, in a tree and yells at people.

I can’t blame him, I’d be angry all locked up and people gawking at me all day. This time we found the angry monkey in a heated battle of power with a young man and his friend. The guys were copying the actions of the monkey – like when the monkey yelled and hit his head, the young man yelled and hit his head. There was a point where the monkey won though, the young man was forced to give up and walk away with his head down. It was the monkey’s move, he looked around and knew what he needed to do to show this punk that he had better back off! The monkey grabbed his (oddly) pointed penis and showed the boys just how big he was! I stood there for a moment in a daze listening to the boy laugh hysterically. I turned to view a woman’s tonsils as she laughed so hard she couldn’t breathe. I just kept thinking this isn’t all that funny – but as I replayed the scene in my head I laughed, because it was indeed funny! We left the angry monkey who was all beefed up and ready to make the young man his bitch and moved on to the chimps…

Yeah, here we go again. The chimps were in a bathing mood and they decided to show us just how they groom each others butts. What was more comical was when the angry monkey guys walked up just in time to see the butt-picking chimps! The one young man turned to the other and said, “What’s going on with the monkeys today?” and then the young man, who was challenging the angry monkey, said to his friend, “Bend over.”

Yeah, we had fun at the zoo…

download rush hour 2 dvd

We went accross the street, after hitting the souvenir shop first – of course – to the Fairy Tale Town. This a fun place and only costs $3 more to add Fairy Tale Town to our trip to the zoo. This is a place where the children can let go and have fun! They can run around and act like the little monkeys that they are! It was only about an hour in Fairy Tale Town, but it was an hour packed with non-stop movement! They ran the “crooked mile” five or six times without stopping – it was an hour loaded with energy release. *yay* When it was time to go, the children gave a small fight to stay but didn’t really go to war with us. The park was open for another hour, and we could have stayed longer had they really wanted to, but like I said it was small and I think they were ready. Sammy was out (asleep) before we got onto the freeway… Little fella!

On Sunday we followed my aunt and uncle over to where one of my cousins works – just to say a quick hello. I have no idea when I had seen her the last time – but she is a lot older than me and we never really spent any time in the same room. My mother was connected with her and it was more of a reunion for them. After that we followed my aunt over to her youngest daughter’s house in ElDorado Hills. Meirve is eight years older than me, and was my personal hero growing up. We never spent much time together growing up, but I heard awesome stories of her through our grandmother. I had not seen her since I was 17 years old – fifteen years!

My aunt had five children – four girls and one boy. I was closest to the boy, with whom I had spent the most time, and he always treated me with love and respect. He was the youngest of the five and he was great! Sadly his life ended way too early due to diabetes. He’ll always be the best! My aunt’s oldest is the “problem” child and I have always disliked her with great and personal passion (that story’s not for this blog). Meirve became my ultimate hero when she smacked her older sister in the face… or so I believed. It turned out that it never really happened, but I didn’t find this out until I had brunch with her this month! I had only heard the “smack” story through the bellowing sobs of the older sister, who was telling on Meirve to my mother. I remember seeing the clouds part and the bright light of heaven open up as I imagined Meirve’s hand flying through the air, sharply and quickly coming in contact with her sister’s face. Then I imagined the doof look on my oldest cousin’s face as she probably grabbed her cheek (as if kissed by someone special and she was never going to wash that spot again) and ran off like the cowardly chicken that she is. My heart broke a little as Meirve told me what “really” happened. But if it’s okay with Meirve, I am just going to believe the “slap” story with a smile in my heart.

It was so much fun sitting around chatting with the cousin I had admired from afar for so long. Now, we both have children and are married to computer techs. Her girls are so beautiful, and Sammy and Keirra (second cousins) had a blast with them! I cannot wait to see them again!!

The weekend was soon over. Monday, my mother spent some last minute time with her sister and brother-in-law while Scott and I took the kids to a local park. It seemed like every woman there, at the park, was pregnant. I was careful not to drink the water.

It was nice visiting with family – I always dreamed of a big happy family… I just never got one. I hope that Meirve and I can change the course of our family history and bring our lives together. I will probably never really get the large extended famiy I dreamed of once upon a time, but maybe I have a second chance at a small one.

Sammy was wasted by the time we piled into the car for the short two-hour ride home – again traveling in the opposite direction of the traffic. He passed out and slept the whole ride home. We stopped at the lake for a yummy bite at Sam’s Beach House – a kid-friendly place at Round Hill (Lake Tahoe). We got home and slipped into bed, happy memories of the weekend running through my head. I looked at Sam and said, “Good night my little monkey boy.”

This post is filed under Jumkins. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.