Category Archives: R Life Lessons
The Pioneer Spirit
Yes, that’s Us Rhinos all right, ready for the Challenge, following our Destiny. Onward, then Onward some more. Been there, done that, by going there and doing it. Excelsiors-and-Then-Some, that’s Us. (Or We, if you want to get persnickity.)
Please notice, there is no globe in this image. Flat Earth Theory allows for vertical irregularities, so We are still good.
Also, no raccoon was harmed in the making of this image.
From here to there
Flat Earth Theory has a lot to recommend it for anybody who has walked over a lot of the surface of the World, step by step by step by step, trudging along. In fact, other “concepts” have always seemed pretty far-fetched to Us. Sorry, but that’s how We see it. And experience it. Common sense, right?
The earth as a spherical planet seems so implausible. Some folks believe it’s round, but We can’t hurl ourselves onto that bandwagon. Wouldn’t We roll off the earth all the time? One misstep and you spin away to who-knows-where-oh-golly?
We’ve seen a lot of revolutionary ideas, and We like to allow for Developments. This is such a case. Hotheads Unite!
On a less-obvious note, We Rhinos have only visited in South America. We never colonized there, as We did in North America. It wasn’t Location, it was Timing; the variables of many real estate decisions.
So then she said…
We are careful with our sources of information. We try not to be gullible, but We are naturally trusting. That may be a fault, but We own up to it. We are not sly.
We get a lot of data from birds. They have the advantages of mobility and aerial perspective, getting the Bigger Picture. That said, much of what they have to report is, not unexpectedly, for the birds. Literally.
Life’s Sign Posts
It is not our experience that many situations are open to mono-directional interpretation.
Maybe a more useful sign post is “Go Slow”.
A New Dawning
Each night, We encourage our Tots to put aside the petty woes of the day, and get ready for a spanky-fresh tomorrow. Like getting a new outfit for the day to come.
So effective is this tradition, that We adults embrace it as well. It’s easy to tell when someone forgets. Ms. or Mr. Grumpy comes to call. (Cue: eye rolling)
Imaginary jumpsuits do not actually have zippers.
Neither Kith nor Kin
These animals are not relations, as We are often asked. They are pachyderms all right (as We are) which means “thick skin”. However, beyond that they have their own “Paths to Destiny”, with which We wish them luck. From a cool distance.
Elephants are bigger than We are, and Hippos are roughly the same size as some of our family. We (R), and they (h), come in a range of sizes.
We share turf in Africa, allowing one another space to function. We Rhinos are mainly soloists in our daily routines. Elephants parade about in herds, and Hippos are aquatic gangs or tribes or conglomerates or something.
In Asia there are no Hippos. Elephants there are more easy-going. Many do not serve themselves; they serve humans. What they make of that situation, We cannot say.
Is it possible that “Pachyderm” also means thin-skinned? All of Us are excitable. Especially them. We are artistic.
By the way, if you are green with envy, as We assume you well may be, get out some yarn and knitting needles. Knit one, purl two, whatever that means.
Like it is
“Facts of Life in the Wild”, a post of 11-10-14, addresses some of these issues as well.
Ticked Off
As mentioned, We eat greens. We stroll among the grasses and shrubs, munching and cogitating and humming. Pastoral pursuits, annoying no one.
But– All is Not Well. Among the friendly plants creep our teensy, virtually invisible nemeses: Ticks. These merciless critters jump Us, and seek aggravating places to bite Us. We are the bonanza four-legged Cafeterias of the Tick Universe.
(Among themselves, Ticks may be comradely and a lot of fun. There, that’s all the even-handedness We are giving to these freeloaders.)
But there is Hope! Our feathered friends actually like Ticks; the Food Chain chugs on. They flock Us, and locate these invisible colonists, and then, Ha-Ha!, Mealtime: Part 2 commences. Hoozah and Thank you very much, says the Cafeteria.
Shown are Mynah birds, which are diligent and sociable. They are gossipy, though their ideas of what is intriguing is not always Rhino, if you see what We mean. That said, We would listen to anything for the relief they afford Us by ridding Us of these pestilential bugs.
We live in the Wild. Like every other plaything of Nature, We are designed to graciously bear what must be born. We bear Ticks, but are not always 100% Gracious about it. There is a Limit, you know. Even for Us.
(Mynah birds don’t weigh much, if you were wondering.)
Disruptions #2
RunAmokus is probably the rowdiest of the Disruptions. Chaos and anarchy are insufficient; crashings about and leaps and a few cavorts are necessary to create fully-realized Disarray.
The Disruptions work together, though RunAmokus and Thunderumpus are definitely sidekicks. Their work is almost always spontaneous, wild-eyed, and mindless. It is their disregard of order that makes them so appealing to the Young whose R Tot activities are closely monitored. By Mom.
As young Rhinos mature, the Disruptions age too. Their basic nature does not disappear, but other developing Inner Rhino systems make them, well… less disruptive. Flare-ups still occur, but not with the trying regularity of childhood.
RunAmokus is not strictly gender-linked, but it is true that many male Rhinos do not acquire the same level of control as females. And vice versa, sometimes too. Ask anybody.
Your Inner Rhino 