Maryland Zoo: African Penguins

Today was so cold at the zoo that after leaving the breakfast with Bears, the only other animals that seemed to have any interest in coming out were the African Penguins.  The place was virtually deserted except for keepers and a little army of volunteer docents.  I was watching the penguins alone when a lovely young man stepped up next to me on the observation.  An older woman was with him, possibly his mother.  She made some comment and I responded.  We chatted a little and then she stepped away.  I noticed that both of them were wearing the red volunteer shirts under their coats.  I realized by the way the young man was standing that he had cerebral palsy.  I turned and asked him a question, and though is speech was labored, he was completely intelligible.  Only once or twice in our 15 minute conversation did I offer a phrase that he was straining to articulate, and then only after he had begun to display signs of frustration with himself.  In both instances he seemed relieved to move his thoughts on, and mostly I let him answer at his own pace.  He was full of great information and clearly had lots of cultivated interest and enthusiasm for the penguins.

I thanked him for the conversation and his information.  When I turned I was startled by how close the older woman was.  I hadn't realized that she was still with us.  She thrust out her hand to me and wished me a good day with more emphasis than I had expected.  I wondered if she was somehow grateful for my attention to the young man, but honestly I just really enjoyed listening to him share his passion.  Remember this: we have the community that we create.  Period.