We Went to the Buffalo Zoo!

But we didn't see the Polar Bears, and that's OK

When I was in journalism school I was told the way to tell a story is to start with the most interesting thing first.

And when you’re six the most interesting thing that happened to her today was the

Carousel! Oh, and we went to the Buffalo Zoo

I coughed up five bucks for a two minute ride¹ and she loved loved loved it. Yes, we saw animals and it cost well over $50 to look at some animals and the best thing in her world was a carousel ride.

It gets better. The child found in a box downstairs some beaded jewelry and was wearing two of her finds today. A tween and mom walked by and this young girl was covered in beaded bracelets. I would not be lying if she had 100 on. Maybe it’s a fashion for younger girls, I have no idea.

I mentioned to the child that look at all the bracelets that young girl had! She heard me and turned around and the tween opened her bag and gave a bracelet she made to my little one. This is the second best thing that happened to her today.l

I was also a great lesson that it doesn’t hurt to be kind. Now it’s our turn to pay it forward in the future and do a good deed for a stranger.

Oh. We saw a few animals and the rain stayed away. Also, this is the last event we have planned for her for the spring break. AKA: We survived. One observation is that she’s good for about an hour and a half-ish before she starts to tire out. The trick of course is to find that moment before it happens and not too late. It’s an art.

Lastly, because it was a Zoo we did see a few animals:

And then we went home. She wanted to stop at the gift shop but there was no way we were coming home with a $30 stuffed animal.

---

We Have That at Home

Speaking of not coming home with any crap, it’s because we already have more than enough stuff as it is. Today, I want to write about shoes. Because she walks on her tippy-toes she has to have not one, but two pair of shoes: one for when she’s in the braces and another when not. If you add crocs, rain boots and snow boots we’re looking at six plus pairs of shoes for her.

But for daily drivers she has one pair that are two sizes too big so that her braces fit inside. I forget what they’re called: SFO’s or UFO’s or something. No matter. Then there’s the pair that she wears when she’s just out for a bit and the pain that is known as putting on braces and shoes is just too much for this tired dad to handle for one day. Let’s call these shoes the “screw it, let’s go” shoes.

We don’t get her cheap shoes at Walmart because they’re fine but we need all the help we can get and the sketchers seem to work well and I find I can get both pairs for under $100.

And then, just when you think you have it figured out then she grows and you have to go shoe shopping all over again.

1. Which, BTW is what it costs to become a paid subscriber. Help a guy out here.