Domestic Differences
The only domestic situations We know about (first hand) are Mom & Tot. As the Tot starts the odyssey from Tothood to Youthhood-and-Beyond, things can get confusing. Mom’s authority is brought into question. Independence is always the result of lengthy negotiation on a two-way street.
The Youngster, seeking breathing space, can become obstreperous, also a pain in the neck. For some reason there is limited pleasure to be had from having one’s errors constantly addressed.
The resolution of these frictions almost always involves a lot of Harrumphing for both parties. Dramatic body-language solutions come into play. In the Wild, there are no doors to slam, so kicking up grass and snorting must substitute.
Fortunately, being vegetarians, Nature already made our teeth for grinding, if you see what We mean.
(see December 8, 2014)
Mirror, Mirror on the Wall…
Nope. As you know, We don’t have mirrors in the Wild. Nor walls. Perhaps that is why We are most concerned with our Inner Rhinos; We can’t keep track of our Outer Rhinos successfully. What with the no-mirror problem and iffy vision, it’s just a waste of time.
How We look, what a business to care about. But how We smell, well there is a whole other focus entirely. There is a topic you can surf on!
And We do.
Tailspin
We sometimes get distracted, and overlook the pleasures We get from having a tail. Useful, decorative, expressive, sensitive, responsive… what more could one ask of a body part? There should be a little song We sing in appreciation, but words fall short.
So we hum.
Oliver, twisted…
Hunger is a reality in the Wild. Seasonal or weather anomalies can affect the plants We eat. As the plants fail, so do We.
Starvation is one system Nature employs for keeping population numbers controlled. That is how things are. None of Us is immune.
On the Playground
We are a pretty physical gang, boys and girls alike. Boys may be more aggressive, but girls need to protect themselves and their tots, if and when they have some. So rough-housing is a mainstay of youthful interaction for Us. Gotta be able to dish it out, and deal with it when it’s dished up.
Did you assume this was a picture of a boy? Don’t bet on it.
Wild, huh?
Aphrodisiacs’ Merry Pranks
As We’ve said, primary communications are olfactory in Rhinodom. We can be put into a frenzy by a single invisible thread of scent. The cocktail of scent which We imbibe with each inhalation keeps Us on a perpetual plain of cosmic delectation, just on a daily basis.
When a gal Rhino wants to “get intimate”, she sends out signals to which all nearby guy Rhinos respond, at the gallop. She does not decide to send these invitations; her body does it all on its own. Nature at work through Chemistry.
This is a very powerful signal system. Motherhood, which is the end result of this process, is a three-year commitment, minimum, especially when you count the 15 month pregnancy (which each mother certainly does).
When guy Rhinos get this singular message from a gal Rhino, all sense, proportion, and restraint are short-circuited. A switch is flipped internally which has but one goal (!). Every fiber of the psyche is put at the disposal of the libido.
While that state may sound like fun, there are pitfalls associated with it. The most important is, that although there may be a line of suitors, only one guy is going to perform. All the suitors are crazed, not standing patiently in line for an interview. You may well imagine how exciting things can get. And your imaginings are likely to fall short of the actuality.
Life in the Wild is so named because things get pretty Wild. Many suitors limp away from the altercation. In truth, so may both the bride and groom.
Get Rugged
Image is a big issue with Us, no doubt about it. Every feature of our makeup is reflected by scent, including Masculine Vigor. Each of Us guys wants to smell terrific. Actually, extra-terrific.
Masculine Vigor is a key factor in our sex lives; when a gal is shopping for a boyfriend, she wants to know all about what she is getting. Please to remember, she is signing up for a brief Liaison d’Amour, followed by 15 months of making a baby.
Male Rhinos don’t need to be charming or good providers. Once the Liaison is over, the stud is off to other business. That’s our system, and it works for Us. Our intimacies are physical and short-lived. Muchas Gracias and Adios.
Still, a guy has to make a dynamic first impression, nudging other suitors out of the way if necessary, as it often is. We like to call it “nudging”, but it is often more spirited than the term might imply. That phase of things has a “last-beast-standing” aspect to it. No joke.
We forgot to mention: When We guys are responding to the Call of the Wild, We are not sane.
Locomotions
We admit, We are blundersome when going in reverse. Forward gears, We are light-footed and confident. Going backward, not so much. How are We supposed to know what’s back there? Perplexity leads to insecurity. And Insecurity makes Us peevish.
Nature put our eyes in the front end, so why go where We can’t see? Just seems unnatural to Us. If We want to go somewhere, We aim ourselves that way and proceed, right? Common sense.
In the Wild, animals scurry away when they see Us start backing up. We know just how they feel and how justified they are. It’s not pretty.
Snooze Alarm
Rhinos don’t have beds. But We are told that you can get out of the Wrong Side of one, and be cranky as a result. Our question is: how does anybody know which side is which? Does the bed come with directions?
Those of Us with an active Inner Rhino know how close to the edge We sometimes feel, décor issues aside. Seems hazardous associating with mood-altering furniture.
Maybe there is a part of this We do not fully grasp. Weird.
Your Inner Rhino 