Gone Zooing

ZooMobile season is heating up which means I’ll spend more time in the actual ZooMobile. Yes – the cartoon looking picture is an exact replica of the mini-van I take to schools. Like most things in life, driving around in the ZooMobile has advantages and disadvantages.

Let’s start with the advantages. As you can see the mini-van is brightly colored and covered in animals so it is definitely attention grabbing. If you want to make a turn people are more than happy to let you by. People let me merge into traffic much more readily than they do when I’m driving my personal car. The same goes for changing lanes. While driving down the interstate people often blow their horns and wave at you. You see children’s faces light up as they see the van. And not just children’s faces. I’ve seen many adults do a double take and then break into a grin as they see me going by.

Then there are the disadvantages. As you can see the mini-van is brightly colored and covered in animals so it is definitely attention grabbing. This cuts both ways. When I get lost going to a program (which happens more than I would like to admit) it’s hard to discreetly turn around in someone’s driveway. And I’m one of those people who likes to sing and seat-dance while driving. Since I’m in a brightly colored mini-van that is covered in animals people tend to look at the van – and then they see me, serenading the animals. Or talking to them. I’ve often looked over to see people looking at me like I’m a little crazy when I’m sitting at a stop light chatting to the pigeon in the front seat. But then, they can’t see the pigeon so it really looks like I’m sitting there talking to an empty seat. Now that I think about it, I’m not sure which is worse: people thinking I’m talking to an empty seat or a bird.

So, if you happen to see the ZooMobile out there blow your horn and give a wave. And if I’m singing, dancing, or talking to the seat next to me just ignore me.

See you next week!!