Tuesday, January 24, 2006

Buddy

I’m reading a fascinating account of a red-necktie wearing gorilla who, in the 1930’s, came to live with a human being named Gertie Lintz. The book is called Buddy, and it’s written and illustrated by William Joyce. Here is my favorite passage so far:

Buddy ate so much that Gertie and Bill bought him his own refrigerator. He loved bananas, grapes, and strawberry pie. For breakfast, he could eat a whole box of cereal, doughnuts by the dozen, entire loaves of bread, and gallons of apple juice and still be hungry.

The 1997 movie of the same name passed under my radar, but perhaps that was because at the time I was touring Europe and Asia with the cooking group, The Wildly Fantastic Chef Sisters. Of course, both the book and the movie dramatically underplay the cruel realities of what was going on with Buddy, his upbringing, his eventual career in the circus, and such. Reading accounts of gorillas brought into so-called “civilization” make me realize what a fortunate gorilla I really am. No one has ever made me do anything I didn’t want to do. As Pinkipod wrote in a blog entry I discovered while vanity-cruising Technorati,

You can't tell a big gorilla to attend an anger management class. You can only force it to take a chill pill (Chloroform)...

In the interest of fair disclosure, no one has ever, ever successfully gotten me to take a chill pill. Trying to get me to take any sort of medication, class on anger management or anything else behavior-modifying would be more harrowing (for you) than attempting to give the kitty a pill.

6 comments:

Hazed said...

Buddy sounds like my 12 year old, who is 5' tall, 88lbs and eats enough for 2 gorillas, most days. She even has the frige in her room. I need to check out the pill link you've given...how interesting.

Monkey said...

Buddy's life was much sadder than either the book or the horrible movie by the same name could show. You are right Brad... you are a lucky Gorilla, and I am shockingly lucky monkey. I could be in a lab for crying out loud!

I GOT A GIFT IN THE MAIL TODAY! (I'm going to post about it tomorrow, it's so fabulous. Thank you!!)

Brad the Gorilla said...

Friday, Your daughter doesn't weigh enough to be a gorilla, but I am impressed that she eats enough for two gorillas. I'd love to be in a sub-eating contest with her.

Lady Hearteater: The last time I tried to give the kitty a pill, I ended up in the Monkey Hospital. It was a terrifying experience.

Monkey: Hurrah! It arrived. I look forward to your post.

Liz said...

I love you just the way you are, sans pills and anger management classes :)

Brad the Gorilla said...

Nonny, What would I do without you?

John said...

Word Verifier: The Gathering

Now.

Only in the Hideout.

No medication required.