What a good Mom!!

A Day with Jake and Yvonne

 

Plans and picnic lunch made we fired up the Land Cruiser at 5:45 to get an early and advantaged head start on the other animal lovers heading to the park. Actually, I slept in just a bit so the key turned at 6:30 - which is close 👴. I was also fortunate to have Essie join, a friend who shares my love of getting outside and doing stuff. As comfortable in hiking boots as she is in heels, I'm really grateful that I've met this amazing person and get to share adventures along the road. 

Once crawling along the dirt roads of the NNP and reminiscent of previous visits, I again felt a tremendous sense of privilege. The park is an amazing place. It's a place where the ubiquitous Tik Tok and Instagram fade as real life takes hold of you and captures your attention. Animals go about their business as they have since time immemorial.  I am really grateful for the opportunities life has provided me. This is indeed a treat!
 

My thanks again to the many people that have and continue to support Jake and Yvonne as they make their way through difficult circumstances.  Our weekly assistance (along with help from her brother Walter working as a barista) has made it possible for them to move from a one room dirt floor abode to a 2 bedroom flat they share with Walter and the other 2 brothers.





Jake is a wonderful joyful lad and as he approaches his 3rd birthday this December, I have to say that Yvonne has done an amazing job with raising him. She is patient, loving and protective of his heart and spirit. Just as my mother was to me. The day reminded me of why I took an interest in helping these two people while all the while recognizing that under different times and circumstances, no assistance would be necessary.

As always - if you would like to part with a couple dollars you can do so through: 

e-interact laynemahon@live.com or PayPal laynegmahon@gmail.com

I would like to assist Jake with school fees in the future and if anyone would like to donate to that specifically,  please be my guest 😆

Jake watches intently as a couple baboons groom one another.

The day was particularly  rewarding as we got to see almost everything the park has to offer. There were 2 leopards spotted, but we were unable to get a glimpse. But!! many Lions and Rhino's and Giraffes and Jackals -- each delighting young Jake as he made efforts to escape through the window and join.

As we watched an Ostrich I was reminded of one of my Father's favorite jokes. It goes like this;

An Ostrich is invited to a cocktail party and as he arrives he fumbles with the door making a lot of noise and scaring all the other Ostriches at the party. They immediately stick their collective heads in the sand and as he enter he looks around and says --" hey -- where did everybody go?" 

Miss ya Dad!! Below are a few pictures on the day that you may enjoy. I certainly enjoyed taking them.

Can I get a drink bartender and hey where did everyone go?

A Zebrette watches us curiously. Nothing to say here other than Awwwwwwww

A Lioness (one of the 6 chillin') looks at some gazelles in the distance considering a lunchtime snackaroo.

A big-assed Rhino does what Rhino's usually do - eat grass and lots of it.

A Jackal looks around more even suspiciously than Justin Trudeau at a press conference -- if that's possible.

A Buffalo wishes he'd taken off a few pounds and did a bit of jogging prior to the last attack.

A great shot of Essie enjoying the breeze and view.

Thanks for reading ....Layno - ready for anything!!!