First, let’s take a look at this big fella.
I’m not sure if he’s a caribou or an elk or a moose.
Whatever he is…. he’s large.
Now meet my cousin, Lisa.
Yes this is one of the worst pictures of her ever taken…. but soon you’ll see why she deserves it to be posted here.
Lisa is amazing. Our mothers are sisters and while growing up we did everything together.
Lisa let me drive her car before I was allowed.
Lisa took me to my first scary movie “The Fog”, when I was too young.
Lisa gave me all of her clothes… and I was the best dressed girl in school thanks to her hand-me-downs.
But she’s also trouble…. and that’s why I’m putting in this strange picture of her panicking behind the wheel.
That’s right, my blog is being used for R.E.V.E.N.G.E.
Lisa had heard about a new Safari Park that had opened in Rockbridge County, Virginia where you drive through and see all the animals.
When we first drove into the park…. six giant creatures surrounded her van.
They started slobbering all over the windows … I suppose they wanted us to roll down the window and give them some food.
This one caribou/moose/elk creature came up on my side of the van.
I was sitting in the middle seat and pulled out my camera to take a picture and explain to her husband, Wayne, what happened to their vehicle.
The animal seemed to actually be trying to get inside the van.
And for some unknown reason, Lisa decided to push the electronic button from her driver’s seat and OPEN MY DOOR!
Before I knew it… I was face to face with a giant thing with giant antlers…. slobbering and lunging at me for food.
I FREAKED OUT.
I remember screaming loudly…. and somehow I ended up sitting in the lap of my seven year old daughter.
I said “ARE YOU CRAZY?”
Lisa said, “I thought you could get a better picture with the door open.”
I’m quite sure she was right… but we’ll never know.
My reaction freaked out all three kids in the van.
Zach kept yelling from the back seat…. let’s get out of here.
We eventually became more brave driving through the three mile park.
They claim to have 700 animals to see.
There was ostrich, deer, pigs, camels, herds of zebras, elk, llamas, bison, many varieties of deer and antelope, giraffe and much more.
We eventually did roll down our windows a bit and stick the bucket of feed out for the animals.
My mother was in charge of holding the bucket …. and she and Ally ended up petting a zebra.
When the camel started near us… Lisa was getting up the nerve to feed it.
But as it started to stick its snout into our van… Zach screamed, “They spit! roll the window up.”
So immediately Lisa pressed the button. But it was too late. The camel was already inside a bit…. and its upper lip was caught in the window as it rolled up. We got a full view that would make a dentist cringe …. a full mouth of huge teeth…. and for a moment we were all wondering how to get the camel unhooked from our van.
Lisa quickly rolled her window down just enough for the camel to escape…. and we took off.
One has to realize that when you end up screaming in the lap of your seven year old.. your kids will never quite look at you the same.
I have a feeling next time I’m trying to calm their fears about clowns, the Pirate Parrot, or thunder …. they’ll remind me of the great safari incident of ‘07.
