Escape from Boring, Michigan

I do not live in the most exciting town to begin with.  Well let’s face it, its flat out boring.  If there were a fun factor rating system, I imagine Lansing would rate somewhere between watching grass grow and getting a colonoscopy.  For many families, boredom or cabin fever is a winter or spring issue, which summer usually cures.  However, for us, summer can be a bit of a problem.  The warmer weather means that the park, lake, etc. (all the Luke-friendly spots) are busier.  Not JUST busier, but busier with little defenseless children and their helicopter mammas.  This isn’t an issue for Luke so much as for me (and Ego doesn’t care for it either). Luke is content to just run down the smaller humans if they happen to be on “his” swing, or get too close to the small area of Lake Michigan that Luke has laid claim to.  Because I guess for Lukie, nothing says "fun weekend" like watching his mom explain to angry parents that her son’s sense of space is off, and that he really didn’t mean to barrel right over their precious bundles of joy. 

But, we’ve SOOOO done the local parks and playgrounds, and Lil’ Mama and I definitely needed some new scenery.  Throw in an invitation from a family member that hasn’t been seen in about 15 years, and I decided we’d risk a trip to the Detroit Zoo.  On a Saturday.  When the temps were pushing the high 90s and the humidity had turned the air into a sauna.  I come up with the best ideas, no?

I think we made it through about 1/3 of the zoo before we gave up.  The heat was ridiculous, and many of the animals had gone in search of cooler pastures.  Thankfully, neither of the kids noticed.  Lil’ Mama's only concerns were whether or not her painted face was holding, and where the cotton candy booth was located.  

The only excitement came when I convinced (ok...forced) Luke to ride the carousel.  His favorite playground toy is the merry-go-round, so I knew he’d love it.  Apparently I knew this more so than Luke, who wanted nothing to do with a platform full of seahorses and fish.  He growled...he screamed...he tried to make a jump for it right over the enclosure fence, but for once I was prepared.  I set Lil’ Mama on a horse, wrapped Luke’s arms around a shiny gold pole, and then wrapped myself around a pissed-as-hell Luke.  And prayed that the carousel started soon.  

The thing about praying is its really the same as wishing, and it turns out that wishes do not make the Detroit Zoo carousel go ‘round (in fact the only thing that DOES is $2 per person).  But finally, after what seemed like a decade, the ride began.  And sure as shit, as soon as it started up, I could feel Luke immediately relax.  He closed his eyes, threw his head back, and just enjoyed the sensation of spinning.  Maybe one day this kid will get that I know him better than he thinks.