New Kid on the Block

I am usually smitten with the baby version of just about any living thing.  So when I heard that Busch Gardens had a new baby Cheetah, there was pretty much no stopping me from getting there to see him.  He was born at the Jacksonville Zoo, but was rejected by his mother, poor little thing. 

We were planning a visit to Busch Gardens on Saturday, April 16th, for Ramp Jam, so I was really excited when I read that the baby Cheetah would be on display to the public that day.  I was a little nervous when we got there and the guy checking our bags at the gate didn't know anything about it.  Surely the whole of Tampa would be flooding through the gates to see this adorable feline miniature!?  But a quick check with Guest Services confirmed that he was indeed on display in the nursery area.  Whew.

Not only was he there, but he was hanging out with a friend from a shelter in Orlando - a yellow Labrador puppy!  More cuteness!  The idea was to teach him puppy behavior.  He appeared to be learning it very well, at least the playfulness part.  There was one magical moment where he came over to the glass on our side.  My kids were all down low at his level watching and he just came right up and looked them all right in the eyes.  It was so amazing.  I could have stood there and watched him and his puppy buddy all day, even in the heat and humidity. 

Then on May 10th, I heard our little Cheetah friend and his puppy were going to be on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.  So I actually "DVR-ed" it so that we could watch it with the kids the next day.  And when they brought him out on the show, I said wistfully, "Oh, look how big he's gotten!" as if we knew him personally or something.  I get attached.

Maybe it's just that I can identify with him because sometimes I'm the new kid on the block, too.  Just minus the off-the-charts cuteness, darn it. 

The public has since voted to name the Cheetah "Kasi," which means "one with speed," and the Labrador "Mtani," which means "close friend."  I approve.  Which is good, since they are mine, after all.