One Wild, Magical Moment at the Los Angeles Zoo

Ever seen a wolf howl in the wild? Or watched grizzly bears fish for salmon from just 50 feet away? Maybe not. But I have been lucky enough to do both.

My husband and I even spent our honeymoon in Churchill, Canada — “polar bear capital of the world” — after reading an article about the place in National Geographic. (Do I have the coolest hubby in the world, or what?)

Each of these experiences consisted of moments that touched me deeply. Made the hair on my neck stand on end. And made me feel — if only for a moment — completely at one with the natural world.

I guess it’s only fitting that I would want to share those experiences with my kids. And this week — on a final day of play before sending my oldest off to kindergarten — I was able to do just that.

At the Campo Gorilla Reserve at the Los Angeles Zoo, my son and I shared an up close and personal encounter with a silverback.

We were just about to walk away from the exhibit when a huge male lumbered our way, quickly grabbing up a bite of lettuce before plopping down against the glass wall in front of us. The only thing between that gorilla and my son and I was the glass.

Talk about chills.

As if by instinct, my son and I sat down on the ground right beside the gorilla. My son whispered in disbelief, “Look, mommy, he’s right there!” His excitement made my own experience that much sweeter.

A chance to share one magical moment not just with the natural world, but also with my son.

I put my hand on the glass right up against the gorilla’s hand. My son was quick to point out: “Mommy, his fingernails look just like ours!”

Close enough to see the fingernails on a gorilla. You can’t beat that.

Our encounter lasted maybe a minute, but will stick with me for a long time to come.

It’s what keeps me inspired to continue sharing nature’s gifts with my kids — in spite of the hustle and bustle that is our world today.

There is plenty of nature out there to discover, but our kids will need us to make it a priority for them.

C’mon! The rewards are worth it. I promise.