A Girl With a Sword

making it earth day

I came up with another great Kilter idea--Konsumer Kilter. They could have it at IKEA, with all the crazy-sleek furniture and all the kitchen appliances and curtains and rugs. It would so capitalistic and globalistic and a rocking good time.

We went to IKEA yesterday, as part of our Earth Day celebrations. But first, we went to see Jane Goodall at the Franklin Park Zoo. Jane Goodall is like a storybook character in our minds. We arrived at the zoo in a heightened state of excitement, the only phrase we said that actually made sense was "Jane Goodall." Everyone else in the state seemed to have gotten there ahead of us (apparently in Massachusetts Jane Goodall is a recognized religion). We rushed through the zoo, but soon realized that the pavilion where Jane was supposed to be speaking was now empty. Then Keri decided we had to take out the zoo employees so we could see Jane Goodall in the "Meeting Barn." Sadly, we were outnumbered and on unfamiliar turf. So we did what Hope told us Jane wanted us to do--we saw the animals. It made me miss the Omaha zoo with the klipspringers and pecaries and tigers (there were no tigers). One thing I like about zoos is noticing all the smells, the way everyone looks around nervously while standing in the body odor of the gorilla pen, the way the leopards and lions smell like a crazy, old lady's house. There's something about the body/feces smells in zoos that is not really bad and is really interesting. While we were in the petting zoo, looking for the rabbits, Hope noticed that we were standing right behind the building where Jane Goodall was signing books. So we all peaked in the windows, looking for her just like we'd looked for the leopards and baby gorillas earlier. But we saw her, we saw Jane Goodall and now our lives are richer.

After the zoo we had to find some way to purge ourselves of any enrichment so we went to the deadly cave of wonders that is known as IKEA. It's roughly the size of Disney World and needs its own transit system. I decided the best idea IKEA had was advertising their cinnamon rolls from the moment you drive into the parking lot, through all the miles of the store, then selling them right past the cash registers, so you go home associating IKEA with this beautiful taste in your mouth. That's pretty much all I remember--IKEA, big . . . cinnamonny, yum.