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Sunday, October 12, 2014
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6 comments:
When we still had the three Woodcock Elephant Act together, "Lydia" was the BEST mount elephant. On her own when we had laid off for a bit and I would be a little weak in the arms & legs, as I was allergic to the dust in the barn, and couldn't practice. (I would take dance. But it was not the same muscles. "Lydia" would reach around with her trunk as I was mounting her leg for the three legged hippy-D-hop, and push me up on her leg with her trunk. We did not teach her this. And when the season went along and I got stronger she didn't do it anymore. Until the next lay off. We did teach her to throw me up to her back as she was mounting "Anna May" for the merry-go-round. I had to be standing in her trunk, on the tub, and as she swung up to "Anna may's" back she threw me up to her back. It was a really tough mount. One reason I mention it is because we didn't think any thing about it when we disbanded the three act we. We didn't tell any one about it.....BUT when any one went to mount "Lydia" from the trunk, she threw them behind her, into the manure. They thought she was being unruly. But she was just doing what she was taught. I loved her very much and she loved me very much too.She was so careful with me on all the mounts. She would reach out and get my hand and pull me to her when I would go out to the picket line. She would take my hand and put it on her to touch her all over. She was a real love. She was very hard for me to leave. And Baby "Stella" was another one that was hard for me to leave. I guess that was the hardest thing about our job. When we had to leave a herd. I loved them all so much. But at the same time I was lucky to get to work so many different elephants. "Anna May" was still the "TOPS" of them all......Barbara.....
I'm sure I speak for the masses
when I say how enjoyable it is
to read your wonderful recalls
of personal history Barbara
Was there ever an elephant that
you didn't get along with
Peggy didn't care for me. But she loved "Dalilah" dearly. She would hold her as "Jenny" (My first mount elephant, a Louie Reed Bull did me.) And "Lydia" also would cuddle me. Both would cuddle me and fall asleep. The same with "Stella." But she thought I was her Mother. And "Anna May" was so very special. She saved me when the stage broke in Houston, Tex. We were doing the leg carry, the tub broke through the stage. She got hurt. A place about a foot square, the skin was ripped off. She DID NOT bruise my knee. My head hit the stage as she went down. It knocked me out. I had a concussion and a broken nose. But if she had turned me loose I would have fallen under her and she would have crushed me. But people that saw it happen said she lifted me up high after my head hit the floor. To keep me safe. Then people said that Buckles was in shock and didn't know what to do. I was out cold. "Anna May" lifted me up and laid me across Buckles's arms. Then the people said that Buckles just turned and walked out of the ring, forgetting the other elephants. (We still had the Woodcock three.) And "Anna May" just followed in behind him then "Lydia" & "Sadie" tailed up, no commands. I came to as Buckles was laying me down on the hay in front of the elephants. All three bulls just stood still, didn't move. They took me off to the hosp. The pedestal had hit me in the stomach, just bruised. The head injury. And broken nose. If "Anna May" had dropped me as she got hurt, I would have been crushed beneath her. There was not even a bruise on my leg. Her leg was cut with the pedestal. You would think that when she had pain she would have clamped down on my knee or turned me loose. Later when I had my nose fixed. I went out to see "Anna May" there was not a bandage or any thing on my face. But she reached out with her trunk, right to my nose. ( It scared me.) I stood still. She took the finger at the end of her trunk and touched my nose all around it, sucking air into her her trunk. Then she turned her trunk away from me let out a big sigh, and started rocking back and forth again. It was a "FANTASTIC MOMENT." I got goose bumps. It seemed as if she knew that I was hurt there. And she was checking to see that I was all right. It was a moment I will never forget....Barbara.....
I certainly hope you are pleased
with yourself Miss Barbara now
that you've reduced some of us
crybabies to tears today with
your incredible tale of concern
How long did it take for her leg
to heal from that incident & did
you need to have any procedures
for your injuries
It took about two months for the skin to heal on "Anna May's" leg. Buckles soaked it. And doctored it daily. It remained tender for a while. It took about six months for it to be gone all the way. She was left with a scar. But it was not that noticeable. The concussion was not that bad, it healed with rest. My nose looked like a prize fighter, so I had it fixed. If not for my "Anna May" it all would have been so much worse. I was very lucky because of her. And I like to think she knew it too. It just made us that much closer.....Barbara......RIP...my "Anna May."
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