history in which Lincoln was shrouded in my post earlier this week. In fact, today’s post is as light as a feather.
That's of course because the place I toured was for the birds, literally.
If the DuPage County Forest Preserve sounds familiar, you get brownie points (on second thought, let’s make it a cupcake!) for being a loyal follower. You undoubtedly remember Peabody’s Mayslake Estate in Oakbrook, Illinois; Francis Stuyvesant Peabody. His estate was shrouded in enough history and mystery to make his life during America’s Gilded Age quite interesting, to say the least.
At Willowbrook Wildlife Center (so renamed in 1981), it’s life via the gilded cage
Renovations to our basement since the flood are coming along nicely, so there’s hope yet when it comes to seeing more of Jimmy, soon. I doubt he’ll blow off our trip to Ireland at the end of June.
It was actually all I could think about as Diane and I toured the grounds of Willowbrook; life reduced to a shadow of its original intent. Is it still a life worth living? My father speaks often of quality versus quantity as it becomes more and more apparent that his individual body parts each have a different shelf life.
This bobcat didn't seem too worried about her shelf life. Her blurred vision now makes living in the wild nearly impossible, at least if this feline wants to eat. Is the alternative really living? Whose interests are we serving? Is she cognizant of a life before the head trauma? Does she miss her former life? Is that what separates man from beast, all these questions; memory rather than instinct?
things Illinois while the basement gets a new life, I’ve had plenty of time to think about life’s burning questions. Of course, from time to time I think, too, about where my next cupcake is coming from, how to lose the same twenty pounds (perhaps fewer cupcakes!), and when Jimmy’s obsession with all things basement will die a natural death. Talk about feeling like a caged animal!
I admire their ability to stick to the game plan, regardless of what life throws us. Aren't we all handicapped, one way or the other; lost limbs, broken hearts; aged, infirmed. Does that mean the end of life? It means the beginning of a different life for the animals at Willowbrook. I don't think they know they're handicapped. I don't think it matters to either man or beast at Willowbrook.
I know seeing life and all her beautiful, colorful characters the day Diane and I visited Willowbrook Wildlife Preserve helped clear my mind of any confusion when it comes to the sanctity of life, whatever the circumstances. Thank you Willowbrook; and thank you Diane for the wonderful company!