Friday, November 6, 2009

Wondering where the Lions are?




This morning I woke up with a song in my head. The song was " Wondering where the Lions are ? ". Don't know why, but then a memory popped in my head that I hadn't thought of in years.
My high school choir was in Kansas City for a competition, and one of our free days was spent at the zoo.
I think I was in the 8th grade, but I know that I was a little butter ball in a striped yellow and red shirt.
As I was walking around, I came to the lion enclosure. It was kind of overcast, so they were napping inside. The enclosure had this big plastic bubble, so the lions could actually curl up in it. well, those that could kind of fit, that is.
So, I'm by this bubble, and a female lion comes over, and she's looking me right in the eyes.
I'm on one side of this bubble, and she's on the other side. I put my hands up on the bubble, arms spread out because I'm trying to see her better.
Next thing I know, she's on her hind legs, scratching at this bubble. I jump back, a little freaked out, but then she sat down.
I went back to the bubble and sat on the little ledge. Then she was bumping her head against the bubble, looking at me.
So, I sat there, she rolled over on her back, and we stayed that way for awhile.
When I got up to leave,(there was a lady walking over), the lion jumped up again, and spread out on the bubble.
When the lady ran over to take a picture, the lion sat down and turned her back.
I walked back over to the bubble, and when the lion spotted me, she jumped back up on the plastic.
The lady asked me to stand there so she could get a picture.
After she took it, I left.
So, out there somewhere, somebody has a picture of a lioness on her hind legs, inside a bubble at the Kansas City Zoo in the late 70's, with a fat kid on the other side of her, wearing a red and yellow striped shirt.
Now you know who that is.
I'd love to have a copy of that picture.
Anyhow, thinking of that, and the song, I drew this little sketch.