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September 17 2006 - I'm Home
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It's a miracle to me that I'm writing this sitting in my tent in my beloved tent village in Africa! It's my day off and I elected to spend it here rather than at the Lodge. I knew I needed a day to myself, I also needed to stay close to the monkeys: my time here is short and I don't want to be away from those magical creatures for a second longer than absolutely necessary. You can imagine my feelings on the bus from Jo'burg to Tzaneen. The closer we got to our destination the more my excitement grew. Would my babies remember me? Would I be able to re-establish the relationship I had had with them prior to leaving. I was close to all my babies but Felix... with Felix I had an ease of communication, a depth of understanding that was established the first time I held her and gave her a bottle. Something mysterious, atavistic, primal and profoundly spiritual passed between us; I have a bond with a monkey who's eight inches high, looks like Minnie Mouse and craps all over me, that I have searched all my life to experience with a fellow human being. Ain't life a gas! I've got exactly what I've yearned for all my life; unconditional love; but not in the way I expected. I assumed it would come from a man who would see me for what I am and value me accordingly. Not a bunch of monkeys!!! There is a school of thought that says Creative Visualization is the key to achieving what it is one wants. I found this impossible to apply as I LOVE surprises! I was clear in so far as I knew I wanted to experience unconditional love; how I did so, I left entirely to Fate. And although that may not be the most practical approach to life, it's obviously worked for me for I know beyond all doubt that it is my destiny to be here; at the Vervet Monkey Foundation, that every dream I ever had of love has been realized here. Now, THAT'S what I call a SURPRISE!! And I love it that Fate has such a sense of humour, and I thank the Gods for my own on a daily basis. When I walked into the enclosure the following morning, as one they all hurled themselves at me. Felix settled on my shoulder and kissed me repeatedly, squeaking with excitement, Armstrong put his arms around my neck and kissed and hugged me and as each of them thudded into my body, I put my arms around them and we all kissed and hugged each other, the monkeys chattered away and I cried for England! All the time I had been in London I had dreamed of this moment, the moment when I would be re-united with these extraordinary beings who had so claimed my heart, become part of my experience, and so part of my life. And the dream had become reality and I was giddy with joy.
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