Herr Heinrich Hoffmann (whose birthday this was in 1809) wrote Der Struwwelpeter as a gift for his son, back in 1845. It is a collection of short moral tales, merrily pointing out that defiant childlike behavior can have Catastrophic Consequences.
None of the Protagonists in these stories end up happily, so they clearly learn their Lessons, if a bit late in the day.
RhinoTots find these stories bizarre, but they do like them. Inexplicable, kids.
This is to remind Your Inner Rhino Readers that, despite rumors to the contrary, We Rhinos are fully capable of Multitasking.
We think, We chew, We chew, We think.
We Rhinos obviously have Good Times most of the time. In fact, our problem is one of control and suppression, not expression. We are Good Time Beasts. Hard-wired for it.
This is the result of a Family of long standing, many of whom have explored and expanded our Exuberance Capabilities beyond the norm. Rhinos are and have been pioneers in Jubilationics.
We are also one of the few critters that can have a Square Dance, all by ourselves, supplying music, feet, and elaborate calls while entirely alone. And chewing.
After a happy breakfast of greens, a Rhino will often sit and hum over topics of interest, such as limericks extolling the Wild, or mud, or root systems…
What is remarkable is how cogitation can anesthetize Us Rhinos to the most obvious of Situations. Clues to the left, clues to the right, but “none so deaf as those who will not hear”. Or sniff.
On the other hand, We can’t go without breakfast, right? Tricky, Life in the Wild.
John Bauer was a Swedish artist and illustrator. Mr. Bauer’s work speaks to Rhinos everywhere, evoking a world We have never visited in fact, but know all about in our inner recesses.
That is no mean trick.
Today was his birthday, but in 1882. A good day for Us to pay our respects.
As with any group, there are ways of dividing up Rhinodom. Today We are discussing ‘Going Places’.
One sort of Rhino wants what We want and We’d like it right now. We go get it. The Bee-Line approach.
The other sort of Rhino is on the road, but We want to take in the sights while moving ahead. Eventually will work just as well, if not as soon. The Sooner-or-Later approach.
Yup. That’s how We see it here at Your Inner Rhino. Today.
No critter is here today who is not indebted to the efforts, both small and grand, mundane and extraordinary, of those who came before. It’s a pretty titanic idea to grasp.
There isn’t much more to say, other than
Thanks.
Some mornings We wake up and mentally don our Fancy Pants.
Everybody’s grateful.
Edwin Budding invented the lawnmower, and partnered up with John Ferrabee to manufacture them on this date, in England.
Before 1830, people mowed their grass with scythes, which are pretty demanding utensils. Why people didn’t just ask Us to help with the mowing is a riddle. We White Rhinos could have grazed those lawns in jig time. Munchin’ Luncheon.
Pip Pip!
Rhinos are enthusiastic Conjecturalists. We like to take situations and debate the contrasting virtues of one position or the other, usually both. Exercise is good for our minds, at least We think so.
Is it better to live in a hot air balloon or in a small sporty boat? Obviously question #1 is ‘what will I eat?’ Then, what is the weather like? Who is going with me? Are the calla lilies in bloom again? So much to contemplate!
We can ponder these puzzles for days, though in Sumatra there are other demands on our attention. As you can imagine.
Your Inner Rhino 