Best Field Trip Ever

We went on a lot of field trips when I was little; the planetarium, aquarium, alligator farm, children's museum, reenactments, plays, interactive lectures, etc. But a lot of the trips were to the zoo in New Orleans.

It was a favorite of our homeschool association.

And our group was thorough. They read alllll of the plaques, information sheets and pamphlets that were available. When the information was wrong, (allusions to evolution) the moms would stop and reeducate us right on the spot.

It was usually a long day.

Inevitably, my understanding mom would split from the "pack" and we would end up doing our own thing.

But one time we drove with friends in their wood paneled station wagon. So I knew there was no escaping the others. Six little girls all under the age of ten, piled in the back seat that smelled of gasoline and vinyl.

Dreading, dreading.

It was hot.

The humidity perpetuated the natural stink that accompanies zoo life.

And it felt like we walked for hours.

Suddenly, in true Louisiana fashion, the clouds moved overhead, the heavens opened, and rain fell in buckets.

Six kids, two moms, no umbrellas, and we couldn't even see to find the exit.

My mom managed to get eight yellow ponchos with animals all over them. We stood under the snack pavilion huddled together.

When the rain eased up, everyone was soaked.

But now there were puddles.

The trip suddenly got superbly better.

We squished and splashed our way out of the zoo, and headed to the nearest laundry mat.

We stripped down to our skivvies, put the ponchos on and sat with instructions to be quiet while our clothes were tumble dried.

Six girls wearing sticky yellow ponchos in a car with the windows rolled down.

The air was cool.

Freedom was breezing through the open windows and it was irresistible.

Ponchos were discarded.

We jumped and climbed over the seats.

We shouted to passers-by and sang at the top of our lungs.

We giggled harder than we had all day.

The miserable trip to the zoo was forgotten.

So...I guess I don't have good memories of the zoo.

But I do have good memories of being in a station wagon filled with half-naked little kids.

That's, actually

kind of weird.

odd.

whatever.

It was still the best field trip ever.