A Pail of Apples.

voltee ♦ February 1, 2012 ♦ 3 Comments

Item: Blouse Color/Fabric: Pure white, cotton Designer: American Vintage Where Purchased: Next Boutique Years Owned: 3ish

Tonight, I have very mixed emotions. This is a blouse I’ve never been 100% behind. I want to love it. I really do. But I’m not really sure if it works for me.
I remember anticipating American Vintage’s arrival at Next, hearing Carissa talk about discovering it in France, how light and romantic and unfussy it was.But when the line finally did arrive, I had a hard time justifying the price. All of the pieces were just so light, like one step removed from air. It was hard to pay so much money for something with such little volume that I could literally wad it into a ball in my fist and tuck into a jean pocket. Like a tissue.
And many of the pieces ended up on clearance. I remember Tiffany holding up this blouse and telling me that Lindsay Lohan wore it as a swimsuit cover up and that it would look great on me.
Of course I bought it!
I have worn it a few times, but unsatisfactorily. For such an unstudied, unfussy piece, it presented many issues. Like excessive wrinkling.
It was something I really wanted to bring on my first trip to California. Perhaps I brought it with thoughts of lounging around a sparkling hotel pool a la Lindsay. But I ended up wearing it on safari!
And it was perfect.
The San Diego Wild Animal Park is an absolutely astounding place. Not like any other park or zoo in the world. It’s more like its own little planet. Almost all of the animals are free, not enclosed at all, and they are encouraged to breed and live as naturally as possible. So much so that on our safari we witnessed an impala ready to give birth at any minute! We could see the baby moving restlessly in its mother’s giant belly. The poor mama impala was as uncomfortable as any creature I have ever seen. Which I suppose would be the normal reaction for a mother in labor in front of a truckload of gawkers…
The highlight of the safari is getting to feed giraffes and rhinoceroses (rhinoceri?).
Up first was the giraffes. We were given a handful of leaves, and specific instructions. Namely, to remember that these are wild animals that can weigh over 2000 pounds. They are strong. They could hurt us. Therefore, do not tease the giraffes. Do not grab them or move too quickly. Hold the leaf high, over your shoulder. Let go of a leaf once it is bitten.
A lot of rules. And very hard to remember once a giraffe head is over your shoulder and a wiry blue tongue is snaking toward you!
Basically, I squealed. And giggled. Maybe shrieked. And looked like this:

Actually, I did pretty well with these handsome fellows. But later there was one that was very aggressive, and was literally nudging my head with his warm prickly neck. He licked my face! I didn’t mean to withhold a leaf from him; I just sort of forgot what I was supposed to do. Such an encounter was just surreal. And wonderful!
I think our guide was about to swoop in and save me when I regained my senses and finally fed the gentle beast.
Then came the rhinos. The saddest and most amazing tales told on the safari involved rhinoceri (rhioceroses?). The San Diego Wild Animal Park has done an amazing job encouraging breeding of rhinos, and has helped bring many types of rhino back from extinction. Except for the Northern White Rhino. It’s just too late for them. There are only seven left in the world. Seven.
And it seems as though they are all past their breeding years. These beautiful creatures will be gone- it’s only a matter of time.
We saw one of the males. He looked like he knew what was happening to his species- he seemed depressed. Even his horn was droopy.
I cried. (Want to learn more or help the rhinos? Go here.)
Then, we met Rosie. A happy Southern White Rhino! She was magnificent. We got to feed her buckets full of apples and pet her dry, leathery face and pickery chin. Here she is, in all her glory:

I never in all my life saw any creature eat an apple slice with such enthusiasm. I dropped in the apple, she chewed, and in seconds she was ready for more, eyes bright, lip protruding. Who know a pail of apples could produce such vast quantities of joy? We loved her so much that we named our new refrigerator after her!
My only regret was that I couldn’t kiss her on her dry, wrinkled forehead. Or horn.
The shirt made an excellent light layer for the safari. Floaty, comfy, and cool. There was not a cloud in the sky that day, and it was nice to have a light cover up. Oh, another regret- the chunky necklace. Not that great of an idea on safari. I ended up with a very oddly shaped sunburn, even with sunscreen… Sometimes I make bad choices.