Yesterday, my church had a festival at the amazing Casa Italia Grounds. It was the closest thing to a perfect day possible: my best friend Mimi was there (and a certain 'kolega' who sat on a blow up ring and ate pizza with his friends, Mimi do you remember who?). There was also a petting zoo, complete with donkey, llama, bunny, chickens, sheep, pigs, ducks and GOATS (ahh, those loveable goats).
Here are some pictures of the petting zoo (I took over 300 of the animals alone, of course I won't post all of them):
These cute chicks were quite soft once you got the nerve to touch them (this means getting over the look of their sharp little beaks).
This little chickie could've been the sibling of the two pictured above. Some cruel kiddie stuffed him into a red bucket with some water in it, and the chick couldn't get out.
Now he's (or she's) free! Mimi got the chicken out of the bucket
Somechicken I presume is mama of the above chickies
Two other chickens. There was also this GORGEOUS brown and black chicken who had to go into their van for some reason before I managed to get a picture.
There were two ducks too
This cow calf had the most gorgeous eyes. Poor thing was underweight! Its neck and side was just skin and bones.
See that amazing eye?
The goats and sheep loved stuffing their faces into my camera. Observe.
This is one of the few sheep that liked being in my pictures
YOU guess what this goat is thinking
This sheep is very photogenic
Some pictures need no description :)
'Nother photogenic sheep
A sassy llama
Sheep loved to stick their noses into my camera!
This donkey was so calm through all the little kid's screams
The little kids (as in goat babies) were just so adorable!
Especially when they tried to eat us.
Another sheep!
Cuteness beyond measure!
This would be my best picture EVER if that girl hadn't gotten into the background! A second after I clicked the shutter she grabbed the poor goat into a tight embrace, proclaiming how perfect it is.
Guess what this goat did right after I took this picture? Note the intensity of desire in the little thing's eyes. This poor goat was limping around so the people who ran the petting zoo brought her inside the truck.
I still have MANY more pictures, but my internet is acting up so I'll post them tomorrow.
Now on to why this wasn't a perfect day.
After 8 pm, my mother received a phone call. I heard only my mom's part of the conversation and assumed someone had died- maybe someone my mom works with. Then I went out to the garage with my dad and forgot ALL about the phone call. Until I came back inside and saw my mom sitting worriedly on the chair. I asked what had happened. So she explained to me. She said that Adam and Jill's mom (note: fake name, these kids are twins in my class) called her. The first thought I had was, is one of them dead? Or someone else from my class? Then my mom carried on. Their mom called to say that Fred's (again I freaked, was my friend dead, note fake name again), Fred's mother was dead. She died on Saturday night of cancer.
I only met her once. And she was amazing although I don't remember too much. But imagine being a 13 year old boy. Your mother is dead. The only good thing about this is, she had a disease so my friend and his family knew it was coming. But my friend's brother is having his graduation tomorrow. And there's so much she won't see of her son's lives! I remember thinking last night- will I ever see the same goofy carefree Fred again?
I was expecting Fred and his brother to stay home today- they didn't. Fred didn't act too different- mostly still goofy and carefree with his unruly mop of hair. But in some moments- I could see the grief. Everyone was helping him and supporting him, but when their attention strayed I could see that he had changed. Who wouldn't? He smiled so often and the smiles seemed natural- he still goofed off and commented in his thoughtful way. But he missed his mother.
Words can't describe death. They can't justify it. I can't describe how I feel right now and how I know Fred is affected although maybe hasn't realized it all yet? I'm not too personally affected- but I feel so sorry for Fred and his family.
