The "Oldies But Goodies" Go to The Detroit Zoo.....

When Tom and I got up this morning it looked like it was going to be a wash out of a day for an outing to the zoo. Renee, the wonderful lady who works for American House said she would call us if it was canceled. We had not heard anything so we had breakfast and headed to American House for a wonderful trip to the Detroit Zoo with Mom, and some of the Oldies But Goodies. Tom and I were excited about going and helping out. I was not too excited to discover how Mom's behavior would be getting up early.  Mom loves to sleep in and take her time in the mornings, and there can be mornings that she would fight you in her attitude going anywhere so early.

We got there and went directly to her apartment, and I gave her my special knock. The knock usually makes her laugh but not today it didn't.  I tried to get her excited about seeing certain animals at the zoo, and that did not work. She said I could go and see my friends the zoo animals. Then I expressed that Greg her golden child son, was going to meet her at the zoo.  Please don't think badly of me by putting in my blog something negative about my brother, he even knows how she will do anything for him.

Well... that did not work getting her going to the zoo. I also told her that Nick and Renee were so excited about her going that they were going to the zoo now. She then replied good, they will see I am not there. Each time I gave her examples in why she should go to the zoo, she got more comfy in her bed. We then heard a knock at the door, and Mom got up to answer it. It was one of the girls telling her to get dressed for breakfast and that the bus was waiting for her to go to the zoo.

Mom told her she will be down after I helped her to get dressed. I almost hit the floor in shock, because I never thought telling her the bus was waiting would work. Got Mom dressed and she had to pick a certain outfit to wear and we quickly went for breakfast. When we got to breakfast the only thing they were serving was a banana, coffee and a danish. Mom ate very slowly, and she got mad at me that I was talking to her friends. She did not want me to talk or look at anyone. Nick came and said hello to Mom, and she loves him. I know Nick gives Mom lots of wonderful attention, not only to her and the other Oldies and Goodies. Soon, Renee came and told Mom everyone was on the bus and in five minutes she will have to get on it.

 Mom smiling because she loves riding on buses.

 Chris is doing some thinking...."Do I really want to be doing this?"

Roger giving me the thumbs up because he told me he was so excited about going to the zoo.

After watching Mom climb on the bus we could tell she was getting excited about going on a bus ride. Tom and I followed them in our car and when we got to the zoo everyone was so excited. Each person expressed what they wanted to see and one lady wanted to play Bingo too. Renee told us all that we would eat first just in case it rained. Renee and Nick had a delicious lunch for everyone. Mom was excited because Nick brought some pickles.

 Renee, Jen, Franco eating their delicious lunch under a shady tree.

 Roger, Caroline, Chris, Jim, and Mom enjoying lunch.

Nick had a bag of pickles and Mom was so excited that he brought the pickles for their picnic at the zoo. Mom loves her pickles.  Nick is in charge of all the food served at American House.

Everyone ate, and went to the bathroom. Nick told us seeing the butterfly house was right across from where we were eating, so we went there first. All the zoo animals homes were very far for some of us to walk too. We took a lot of breaks to sit and drink some water. 

 Getting ready to go to the  Butterfly House.

 Franco and Mom so excited about seeing the birds and butterflies...

 Roger was reading the map to see where the Lions and Penguins were.

 Jen was walking around the butterfly house hoping a butterfly would land on her.

 Jim and Roger were amazed at the colorful birds.

 

If you look close, you can see the butterflies flying up high in this class dome, trust me it was unbelievable.

 Caroline, Roger, and Jim kept trying to find butterflies.

 Mom wanted to hang out with one of the cutie pies, Mr Nick. She loves Nick and everyone else.

Jim and Caroline taking some time to rest, but still looking around to see what animals they could find.

 Jen and Franco were such good sports doing all that walking and did not complain.

 Mom, Nick, Jen, Franco and my Tom smiling at me. Jen did not want her photo to be taken..LOL

 This photo of Jen and Nick I love.. Look at their smiles.

 Checking the map to see what animal were close to visit next.

 Had to take a photo of everyone by the beautiful fountain on our way to look for the animals.

Love the Zebra... every Zebra is different. Love the stripes of black and white...

Below are some of the other animals we saw on our adventure......

Mom and the Oldies and Goodies loved touching the hair of a camel. Mom , Jim, and Roger had lots of questions to ask.

We felt bad for some of the Oldies but Goodies because they were doing more walking then they normally are used to or are capable of, but they did not complain at all, and they were such great sports. One little Oldie but Goodie who sat in the wheel chair through out the trip complained the minute we ate our lunch she wanted to go to her apartment. We all told her something different about when she was going back to her apartment, and finally she just realized we were not ready to leave the zoo and she stopped asking to go home. I had to laugh when Roger could not stand hearing her say she wanted to go back to her apartment so he went to her and said that if she did go back she would just sit in the lobby anyway. He continued that here she can see all the zoo animals and I thought only Roger could find a way in explaining why she should stay a little longer.

Here's the American House Family of  "Oldies but Goodies" who all had fun at the Detroit Zoo.

 Jen trying to be silly in the photo I was taking of her and Nick.

Every chance Renee and Nick got they would give the Oldies but Goodies a break to sit and drink water. If any one needed some time to rest we all rested.

This photo looks like Mom has sore feet, no...the flies were biting her.

When we finally got to the far end of the zoo, Renee decided for us to take the train back because we went a long way walking and it would be hard for us to walk all the way back. It was also looking like it was going to rain.  We stood in line for awhile because there had been a medical emergency in the park and the ambulance needed to have the tracks clear to exit the zoo. 

Finally, the train came and we all got on the choo... choo... and headed back to the entrance of the zoo. Everyone had so much fun, and two of the men had asked me to take some photos of the animals for them. I knew once they got on the bus Renee and Nick would have some adorable Oldies but Goodies snoring away. They would be dreaming of the animal friends that they met at the zoo.  Sadly, some like Mom will not even remember the wonderful time they had seeing the animals. I have taken photos of many things Mom has seen or done to help her remember the cherishing moments she has had. I know I want to hold on to those fun moments just knowing Mom is here with me. Even though I know she is going farther and farther from me.

 On the train to take us back to the main entrance of the zoo. We all looked tired but we were all so happy that we came to the zoo.

I love this photo.... Jim and Mom holding hands so happy that they are at the zoo. Jim really takes good care of Mom when he is with her.

I could not leave without taking this flag... The Oldies but Goodies had such Happy Feet while visiting the Zoo Animals.. but when they got home they had sore feet but with AWESOME Fun!

 Waiting for Renee to get the bus to go home.

 They all were in their thoughts of what they had seen and some were talking about how cool some of the animals were. Several wanted Renee and Nick to bring them back to see the lions, and penguins.

 The bus ride was wonderful and it made some of them thinking what animals had they seen.

The end of this story can best be concluded by the end of the Zebra...

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