December 30, 2019
An Animal Lover’s Story
I had been worried, well after dark. As she came in the door, disheveled and smelling of sea and salt. Where had she been?
She explained, she was on the road from Dublin to Kinvara, when she came across a colony of penguin’s waddling down the road. Not wanting them to be injured, she got them into the back of the van, where they would be safe.
Another name for colony of penguins is rockery, which gave her the idea to bring them home to our walled in garden.
Yet on the way, she was stopped by the Garde (Irish Police) who questioned her one why, she was with Penguins in her car.
They told her to take them to zoo. So she did.
A few hours later, as the Garde were getting off shift, they saw Melissa and the van and stopped it.
To there surprise, the Penguins were still within.
They exasperatedly commented, we thought we told you to take them to the Zoo.
To which she gleefully responded, “I did! And we had such a great time, I took them to the movies.”
In memory of this story (like many an Irish story, half are true), I have created some Penguin movies and stories and a birthday greeting for her upcoming birthday and life thereafter.
Note: Melissa Sparks Murphy and I operated a hostel in the west of Ireland for almost a decade, where we cared for many a guest and helper and she that and many an animal. An animal lover she is. So much so when I die, I hope to be reincarnated as her pet.
Since she so enjoyed her time with the Penguins, here is a Penguin Holiday Greeting, A Penguin Story, A Penguin Documentary and finally Penguins to Meditate with.