Daddy Daughter Day at the Zoo

It's been a daddy daughter weekend. Lia's up in Chicago for a mommy daughter weekend (she being the daughter). So back to daddy daughter. We had a great day. Woke up, breakfast at the Old Chesapeake, then off to the North Carolina Zoo.

The zoo was great. A-Ro is at the perfect age to appreciate everything, even the animals. There were a few harrowing moments: the "hugging" chimpanzees for instance. Fortunately, at the time, Anna Rose was being captivated by the bubble gum lodged in the crevice of the Plexiglas. Thank God for debris!

I'll tell you, monkeys are so much like humans. They chew with their mouths open, eat their boogers, and like to groom. This baboon that A-Ro is pointing at - I mean, I have seen the exact same hairstyle on a few humans I know. This gorilla, he picks his nose with his pinky finger just like me!

There are few things better than watching the world through a two year old's eyes. She screamed when the sea lion pulled off a loopedy-loop swim-by inches from her face. She nearly gave herself a concussion jumping out of the stroller to see the giraffe. We had to go back to see the lions three times (and all they were doing was sleeping). Upon seeing a herd of buffalo, she said "Buff-lo pretty." Who thinks buffalo are pretty? In this picture, A-Ro is pointing at a turtle (not the lady). We spent ten minutes watching this turtle eat one leaf of lettuce. A-Ro was enthralled. So was I.

The Crazy One

I thought I was the crazy one. I think we all did. But I have come to the humbling realization that every one in my family is crazier than me. I don't mean crazy in the nut job sense. I still own that title. I mean crazy in the adventurous way.

My little sister started it several years ago when she moved to Macedonia and started living with gypsies. She now lives in Istanbul and lives with gypsies. She also has four kids, which is really crazy. I have one, and that is crazy.

And now, two weeks from now, my parents are leaving for China! Moving to Chengdou where the earthquakes were. They have joined the Peace Corps of all things. Are you kidding me? They're crazy!

And as their son, I couldn't be more proud. Although being the sole Erickson in America is going to take some getting used to. I am thrilled for this opportunity for my folks. What an adventure!

And so, of us all, I have turned out to be the lame one. I live in the suburbs. The closest to danger I get is when I mix the chemicals for the pool, and the most hard core thing I do is go down the slide with my daughter. When and how my family surpassed me, I do not know. I guess I have always looked up to them.

What can I say? I have a crazy family, one I am honored to be a member of. Go get em, team!