Having rested well after a night off in Florence, Kentucky, during which our only exerted energy was put forth in our shocked and giggle-ridden reactions to the stupefying stunts and spectacles featured in the outlandishly gross and absurd action/suspense/thriller Final Destination 5 in 3D with 3D glasses!!!, we are pleasantly ready to drop our jaws at the sights of Cincinnati. Before we leave our hotel grounds, we make friends with a Proud Mom who tells us about her daughter’s story-writing and eclectic music tastes. I imagine that my own Mom would have similar things to say about my necessity for privacy during my “writing hours” throughout my childhood and teenage years so it makes me homesick to see this Mom so unscathed by her kid’s need for space. “It’s great. I couldn’t be more proud of her. She’s on a scholarship down here and I visit when I can but I know she’s gonna make it big and move away and I’ll miss her and I’ll have to fly to all corners of the earth to find her….,” she pauses her drawl. “But I will. I’ll always track her down.” And this Mom, on the spot, decides to stay another night in town by surprising her daughter Lauren with guestlist passes for our show. “She’ll think this is really cool. She really will.” It is a pretty unique way to start our day on the right foot. We feel energized by her vivacity for life and, with a pep in our steps, we head across the highways and bridges to downtown Cincinnati. And as we veer in the direction of Zoo signage, our highly anticipated final destination, Dan and I act like six-year-olds hopped up on sugar and Christmas. We are pretty pleased with ourselves as our tour-Ma Ma Maria pulls our mini-van into the parking lot. Those that know Dan and I know that we are animal nerds and lovers, interested in all creatures from snails to snakes to bear-cats – what’s that!? So it is basically our closest approximation of Heaven to be able to spend our hours under the beating sun, doting over lemurs and rhinos and walking stick insects.  Of course, zoos are controversial and we have spent a lot of time conversing the controversies, but in summation we always conclude that the possibility of seeing cute & cuddlies up close in person outweighs the cons. I think it is important to drum up interest in all creatures great and small in order to preserve the interest to protect them and this is one service that a zoo offers. (Trust me, I’m already prepared for the counter-arguments and I trust that you might have better answers than I do and I’m not trying to make excuses but these animals seemed well cared for and the grounds were also well-tended. But I take to heart your more thoroughly reasoned differing opinions. I understand Anti-Zoo because some of me is too.) But can I now tell you that Aardvarks are amazing. And there is a creature called a Fossa that looks like a prehistoric cat and he is the most absurdly adorable thing you have ever seen. And I had a special moment with an Ocelot. And I pulled out some novice-lepidoptery (thanks Dad!) to impress my husband. Dan was bummed that the otters were on vacation but some big-eared fox and large-winged bats in the nocturnal exhibit re-spirited him. We hung out with white tigers and wondered if the napping white lion had been the outmatched-Sigfried’s formidable feline. Exhausted from overstimulation, we finally lunched on Skyline chilli and felt the compounded effects of hyperactivity, heat stroke, and likely heartburn. Back in the Kentucky borders, we made a triumphal return to the Southgate House. And this time, people came in droves. And so did Lauren and her really cool Mom. And everyone in attendance made the night feel really special. In fact it was pretty much the most perfect day you could hope for. The hospitality and kindness and high spirits of absolutely every one who works at the legendary venue and every single fan who came to our show makes what we do the best living in the world. (I miss you Mom.)