Today was a driving day. We are a family of introverts, so we like a quiet car when we are driving. However, since I knew we would be in the car for a large section of our week, I spent a little time preparing a menu of audio books just in case Isaac might be interested. He was interested although made no promises to actually listen to anything. I had five titles ready for him that I had checked out with my State of Kansas library card. This first leg of our trip was all about picking what we would be reading.
To create the list, Ross and I examined several lists with titles like "100 Books Every Man Should Read" Some books that made it to the short list were stories Ross had read and enjoyed. Some were books I had read and enjoyed. And there was a wild card. The titles were:
- King Solomon's Mines by H. Rider Haggard
- The Lost City of the Monkey God by Douglas Preston
- A World Without Email by Cal Newport
- The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell
- The Body by Bill Bryson
After reading the title and summary of each - Isaac made his choice. True to form, it was the book with, in my opinion, the Best Title. He chose The Lost City of the Monkey God which is a true-story tale of adventure into the Honduras jungle to find Ciudad Blanca - the White City - or, as the title indicates, the Lost City of the Monkey God. This story was a perfect companion to our driving adventure and - we would discover later - became an important element in what one might say was a theme of our trip. To make a long story, short - the book lives up to its title.
That decision made we aimed the car to Hugo, Oklahoma and our first stop at the Endangered Ark Foundation (EAF). The preserve is just east of town and is home to a herd of 60 Asian elephants. The Foundation was formed to provide a home for retired circus elephants. Due to the endangered status of the Asian elephant, they also run a vibrant breeding program. When we were there we got to meet the preserve's newest occupant, two-year-old Cameron. He was born last August and is one cute hairy little guy.
We had tickets for 11:00 a.m. and started our experience in a shed that operates as a gift shop, restroom, and welcome center. When it was time to start we were ushered to a door in the back of the gift shop. Right inside ready to greet us was Cameron and his mother, Wimpy. In the next half hour we learned that 46-year-old Wimpy was a very good mom who has had a majority of the 7 babies born on the preserve while she has lived there. This is no small feat as the gestation period for elephants is two years and then baby elephants nurse for a total of four years before they are ready to be on their own. Cameron and Wimpy showed us some of their circus skills. Wimpy did a wonderful job. Cameron, who was still learning step one - the trunk raise - did a good job after being promised a banana. We watched another elephant get a hoof manicure and then watched her paint a canvas and t-shirt which will no doubt be for sale in the gift shop soon.
Elephants are the 5th smartest animal on the planet. They are beat by dolphins, then rats, pigs (I can attest to that one), and the Bonobo ape (a close cousin to the Chimpanzee). As such, it is important to keep them intellectually stimulated as well as physically active. They are treat motivated - and like any good elephant preserve - bananas are endless and at the ready. The trainers, who clearly love these animals, are generous and full of fascinating information. When the educational part of our hour had concluded, the keepers loaded us into a trailer fitted with patio chairs and a box stuffed full of cut up bananas. We were pulled by tractors out into the preserve to see the rest of the herd.
Waiting patiently for us (and the bananas) were Isa and Lilly. These two entertained our group for quite a while. Isa was being shy. When she wasn't eating she would hide her head behind a tree playing a kind of peek-a-boo with the crowd.
Elephants symbolize strength, power, wisdom and loyalty. When up close and personal, they exude sensitivity, intelligence, peace and playfulness. I was blown away and felt blessed to be witness to this suspended moment of worship for God's creation. Regardless of age, size, creed or color - all of us on the tour were one in play and harmony with the grace and heart of these animals. I stood teary eyed watching person after person approach hesitantly, holding their bananas carefully in two hands. Then, when they crossed the invisible line into the elephant's space, each face would burst into uninhibited laughter and delight as they were welcomed, touched and explored by the waving, curious, friendly trunks of Isa and Lilly. All concern, stress, and worry vanished. There was no space for emotions such as these. Time was suspended and pure, unadulterated joy hung thick in the air. It was beautiful.
I could not help but think how fortunate were the keepers of elephants. The foundation team were wonderful - patiently answering questions, snapping photos, holding bags, helping people clean their hands after feeding, and offering second and third moments until the box of bananas was empty. I could have stayed for days so entranced was I by this wonderful scene. Reluctantly we said our goodbyes and climbed back into the trailer. We were slowly taken back to the spot where our cars were parked. No one was talking. We all knew we had been given a great gift. Refreshed, awed and at peace with the world - we turned to the south and drove on.
In Texarkana we stretched our legs walking through the Owl's Nest Flea Market. We skirted Shreveport, LA and buzzed by the Duck Commander headquarters long enough to take pictures in the then empty parking lot. We came to a stop just east of town. It was a good, full day of adventure.
