Jane was feeling a bit like a caged animal the other day (aren't we all feeling that way during these dog days of winter?). So, since it was one of the season's rare sunny days, she decided to get a good dose of Vitamin D and ramble over to the National Zoo in Washington, DC. Now, before the PETA people start attacking, please note that Jane does have qualms about seeing large animals cooped up in small cells. That said, she does figure that at a place like the National Zoo, animals are cared for quite nicely, even though they aren't in their native habitats.
But Jane digresses. Jane stumbled upon the animals at feeding time, whence she was able to observe some entertaining and educational animal behavior. She was intrigued by the giant panda reclining on its back while seriously chowing down bamboo shoot after bamboo shoot. Then it was off to the Elephant House, where, for some reason, zookeepers had installed a giant scale that the behemoths could climb onto as they roamed from room to room.
This is where Jane started having anthropomorphic thoughts. You see, Jane observed one female elephant, in full view of hundreds of people, proudly stepping on the scale and proclaiming her weight to be 5000 pounds (well, the elephant didn't proclaim its weight, but the electronic read–out did). Now, how many people, particularly women, do you know who would willingly go on a scale in front of their closest friends, much less a crowd of strangers? Not only that, but while on the scale, said elephant decided it was time to eat some high–fat peanuts lying around on the floor. Yes, it's true. Elephants do eat peanuts.
Next, it was on to the hippopotamus. Jane has never seen a hippo out of water before, but here one was. Once again, Jane was pleased with the animal's lack of body image issues. After all, here is what might be considered one of the most, ahem, unusual–looking creatures around, what with its rather enormous rear end, its pudgy, barrel–shaped torso, and its stubby legs. (By the way, did you know that the hippo is the third largest land mammal by weight, right behind the rhinoceros and the elephant? Yet, despite its size—more than 3,000 pounds—and short legs, it can run faster than an Olympic sprinter. Take that, Usain Bolt).
Now, dear reader, while you are hopefully chuckling at this parable, you may be asking, “Jane, what does this have to do with women or travel or business?” To which Jane replies, “Touche, dear reader.” Jane would like you to respond with your morals of the story. But Jane will lead off with one possibility. These days, we are all feeling a bit cooped up and out of sorts with an economic environment that is not our native habitat. Jane suggests one way to cope, even temporarily, is to take time out to observe the carefree nature of animals, whether at the zoo or at the dog park. Observing the gay abandon of creatures with nary a care in the world save for eating may not solve any beastly problems, but it will bring a smile to even the most downtrodden face. And in this day and age, that's barking up the right tree.
