A walk on the wild side. . . .

You've heard of ZooMiami's uber-elegant fundraiser, "Feast With The Beasts", haven't you?  That's a little out of my price range these days, but yesterday I had "Lunch With The Bunch", and it was wonderful!

To be accurate, I didn't actually share my hot dog and fries with any four legged friends, although I would have been more than glad to.  But I did spend more than three hours roaming our fabulous   740-acre zoo on foot with my good friend Diane.  Diane serves as a volunteer docent at ZooMiami, and she knows every animal's back story. She can give you the lowdown on the giant gorilla's love life and explain in detail the difference between the African and Indian elephants. Having my own personal guide made the afternoon even more remarkable.

In addition to the living and breathing animals, birds and reptiles that inhabit this fabulous place, ZooMiami currently has an exhibition called "Creatures of The Habitat - A Gazillion-Piece Animal Adventure".  I don't know the sculptor's name who created them, but the exhibit consists of life size renditions of a whole variety of animals, all created out of literally hundreds of thousands of LEGOS!  Take a look at my photo of the Polar Bear to see what I mean.  The likenesses are incredible.  And by the way, that's Diane in the backgrouund.  (There's also a photo of me playing with Legos inside the exhibition hall. Who said I was totally grown up??)

I am a confirmed animal lover, preferably the live kind, but even if they are made out of Legos. I couldn't stop photographing these gorgeous creatures throughout the afternoon, so what I've posted is only a sampling.

As we walked through the various areas of this lushly landscaped paradise where all the animals roam freely and are separated from gaping people like me only by a watery moat, I thought about my childhood in New York when my Father used to take my sister and me to the Bronx Zoo for a special treat. All the animals were in cages, literally behind bars in those days. It makes me sad just to think about it. Fortunately, the animals at this Zoo live in areas that closely resemble their natural habitats and are lovingly cared for.

If you haven't been to ZooMiami lately, I strongly recommend a visit.  Even without Diane to clue you in on the mating habits of the Galapagos tortoise, I promise you an unforgettable experience.
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Thoughts on vision. . .

As many of you know, among my favorite walking partners is a hard working, four-legged sweetie named Kieran, and the amazing lady holding on to his harness. Her name is Virginia Jacko and she is the CEO of the Miami Lighthouse for the Blind as well as my neighbor and friend.

I've learned from talking to Virginia, and volunteering at the Lighthouse, that many of the men, women and children who benefit so greatly from this non-profit institution's services are not totally blind.  Rather, they suffer from low vision.  Low vision is a visual impairment, not correctable by standard eyeglasses, contact lenses, medicine or even surgery.  It can result from a variety of diseases and eye injuries, including macular degeneration, glaucoma or diabetic retinopathy, and it can interfere greatly from daily life.

The Lighthouse's answer to low vision is their remarkable Solutions Center where a whole world of special magnifying and auditory devices exist to assist with special tasks.  There are talking watches, talking thermometers, glucometers, electronic magnifiers, and much, much more.  There are also computer classes, cooking classes and talking book services, as well as an on-site low vision optometrist and a certified low vision occupational therapist. Virginia is adamant that no one needs to be homebound because of vision loss.  

I'm blessed with good eyesight but I've learned to appreciate how important the Miami Lighthouse is to those with vision problems.  If someone you know would benefit from their unique services tell them to make an appointment or arrange for an in-home consultation by calling 786-362-7479 or visit the website at www.miamilighthouse.org.

I promise you.  It can be life changing.
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