First Love

We took Cameron to the zoo for the first time this past weekend. We thought he’d really enjoy all the animals, because he loves playing with his toy animals and reading about them in books. He knows all the names of the barnyard persuasion, and could identify at least the most popular animals on an African safari. He also knows the corresponding sounds that they all make (his elephant impersonation is great; it’s kind of like “doo doo DOOOoooo!”, done in a high-pitch voice. Absolutely hysterical).

Cam seemed somewhat interested in the first animals we saw (the zebras), but his attention quickly shifted to the miniature “train” that was giving families rides around the park. He also immensely enjoyed playing in the jeep that had “crashed” into the Lion’s den (while giving the actual Lion a passing glance at best), and he had a great time riding on a giant mechanical bunny on the Merry-Go-Round (the real bunnies were completely ignored). And of course we had to end the day in the playground with the giant wooden trains and fire trucks. I’ve said it before: this boy loves his vehicles. The animals didn’t stand a chance.

While Cam was playing in one of the wooden structures, a little girl who was probably 4 or 5 came up to Cam, and appeared to grab his hands. I couldn’t quite see what was going on, and a second or two later the little girl ran off. Cam stepped out of the house with a bewildered look on his face. “What happened, buddy? What’s going on?” I asked him. Cam held up both his hands. “Yittle girl kiss hands”, he said. “She kissed your hands?” I asked. Cam nodded. His gaze then turned to the girl as she scampered away, and said “Yittle girl come back!”

Perhaps cars won’t stay his first love for long.