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Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Odd Memories.

Image from cached newslookup.com

Every once in a while, a sharp - but odd - memory will burble up.  I had one recently, when posting about the fluttering of chickadees around me on the deck.  Many, many (many) years ago, in another life, I was unemployed briefly and filled my time between job interviews with trips to the zoo.  One day I was the only visitor to the Monkey House and was watching a zoo keeper feed these little bitty monkeys.  Being the animal-smitten person that I am (and was and will be), I was riveted, face pressed against the glass separating us.

The zoo keeper noticed me staring and came out from a side door.  "Want to feed them?" he asked.  I almost peed my pants, I was so excited (delicately put, no?)  I trotted, all a-twitter, behind him and before I knew it, I was in their 'off-camera' quarters.  He gave me a handful of what looked to be trail mix (without the M&Ms) and the next thing I knew, I was COVERED in little monkeys.  I had little fingers poking in my ears, trying to pry open my fist to get at the mix, hunting in my pockets.  It was an out-of-body experience.  They were chattering away, busy, busy, busy.  After about 10 minutes, the keeper came to my rescue and dinged on a metal dish that apparently held something quite wonderful, because they all made a beeline for him and I was able to scoot out the door.

I walked around in a daze (noting that the thoroughly unattractive orangutan was named Susie), until it was time to go to my next interview.  Where, unknown to me, I entered their offices with monkey poop down my back and my hair standing on end from little hands.  Not surprisingly, it was a short interview with a shocked-looking HR person and I didn't get the job.

27 comments:

Mama Pea said...

And I thought going in to an interview once with an inch-wide run up the front of my panty hose was embarrassing! I can just hear the conversation between two interviewers as you walked out of the room:

"What was that gloppy stuff on her back?"

"Looked like monkey poop to me."

Tyche's Minder said...

What a great story! Lucky you.

Susan said...

Mama Pea - Oh, yes. I've done the big run, too. I bet, even if they weren't sure WHAT kind of poop it was, it sure smelled different. Not to mention the fact that it was all over the back of my car seat....

Susan said...

TM - It was one of the high points of my life. There were a few more, which I will save for individual posts...when I am desperate for subject material...

Carolyn said...

What a GREATexperience (the feeding of the itty bitty monkeys, not the loss of potential job)! And really, who wants to work at a place that frowns upon some animal poop on your work clothes? Happens to everyone.....right?!

jaz@octoberfarm said...

what a great story! i would love to feed little monkeys!

Susan said...

Carolyn - I don't think that was the job for me in any event. I mean, they didn't even have a sense of the ridiculous!

DFW said...

Now that made me laugh. I went to work one day without my skirt on. Was the days of old ... two piece sweater outfits (mine was all cream). Had on a full slip (cream) & I put the fuzzy top on before 'styling' my hair. Had on sheer panty hose & cream shoes. Got to Dunkin Donuts & realized what I had done, I immediately went back home & put my skirt on. I called my Employees to let them know I'd be a little late & when I got to work, I explained why. The story morphed & first it changed to me coming to work, & then to me also working all day, without my skirt. That was over 25 years ago & to this day, it still gets mentioned on occasion.

Kristin_Texas said...

What a cute and fun story! My grandfather used to have a pet monkey. (My aunt's boyfriend gave it to her). Her name was Michelle. We have a photos of her someplace, sitting on him while he was asleep outside in a fold-out lawn chair. She was looking for bugs in his hair. Lol!

Kristin

Susan said...

Jaz - It was fun for the 10 minutes, then it got a little weird. :)

Susan said...

Kristen - Hoot! We used to call those "blackmail" pictures....

Pioneer Woman at Heart said...

That is an awesome story! ha ha!

Michelle said...

I don't think it would take me 10 minutes to feel weirded out by tiny primates trying to pry into all my nooks and crannies. And I have no doubt I would have sought out the closest restroom to wash my hands and probably my face – and noted the hair, at least. But that's just me, apparently! ;-)

Laurie said...

HaHa! Too funny! My aunt used to have a chimp. The chimp's name was Judy and she had to wear diapers. Obviously, these little monkeys did not.

Sandy Livesay said...

Susan,

Special moments like feeding the monkey's was something you needed more so than that job interview. Besides how often would you've been able to feed those precious little ones?

Susan said...

Michelle - I might have thought about looking in the mirror if I hadn't been so dazed. Or that was my excuse. And it is probably the reason you always look so put-together and I look rather thrown-together! :)

Susan said...

Laurie - How amazing to be related to someone who had a chimp! That must have been sooooo cool!!!

Susan said...

Sandy - You are so right. I do believe that things happen for a reason.

Susan said...

DFW - They always remember the 'slip' (you will excuse the pun) you make forever! At least you were all matching!

Susan said...

Kristina - Thank you!

MrsDuncanMahogany said...

What a fantastic story and experience!!! I would have loved to go in and fed the little ones! I have a cousin who owned a monkey a very, very long time ago. It wore a diaper and sat on your shoulder. I was very young and distinctly remember them bringing it over to my aunt's house and she was so mad.....not sure if she was mad at the cousin or the monkey....

Susan said...

What a thrilling and special experience. I can understand why you would be dazed and probably walking on air. My brother worked in a zoo-a real one as opposed the other kind many of us work in. He spent his days shovelling poop of all kinds. I'll ask him about monkey poop although I think it is rhino poop haunting his dreams.

Susan said...

Mrs DM - My Aunt Edie would have gone through the roof! She didn't approve of anything animal but our dachshund - who was a total brown-noser.

Susan said...

Susan - LOL! I bet even I would have noticed rhino poop down my back!

Unknown said...

Wow, that is too cool!!!

Leigh said...

Susan, what a great story, LOL. Not too funny at the time but, gosh, such an interesting tidbit of your life. Well told, too. :)

Jenyfer Matthews said...

How fun! Clearly I should visit the zoo more often at off times :) I had a similar experience at a petting zoo / safari place with birds. It was awesome. If I had bird poop on me afterwards no one mentioned it !!