A zoo for all ages

By Don Watmough

Recently, while at the Beacon Hill Park petting zoo, I witnessed a touching event that demonstrated the depth of human emotion. It involved an elderly woman in a wheelchair, her caregiver, a young woman volunteer and a baby goat.

The woman in the wheelchair visiting the zoo seemed amazed as the goats at the zoo came to say hello to her, which apparently the goats do regularly. The young volunteer (probably in her early teens) saw the love and amazement between the friendly goats and the woman in the chair, and asked if she would like to hold one of the baby goats. "Oh yes," she replied in happy anticipation.

The young volunteer went through the pen and found a cute baby goat, carried it to the woman and put in in her lap. The older woman had a look on her face like a child at Christmas, and gently stroked the baby. The goat, feeling at ease, almost fell asleep in her lap. She gently kissed the baby goat's head and the word 'bliss' came to mind. Bliss for both of them, and for the young volunteer who provided the opportunity. It was a touching moment that crossed generations, and reminded me how wonderful it is to be alive and living in James Bay.