Thoughts on the tapir.

Happy holidays from I love words and you.

Announcement Gator sends their holiday regards. Art by me.

Scientifically speaking, the tapir is the best animal. For the unfamiliar, they are these big pig-looking guys with long noses and weird little faces. If they were people, they would all have good names like Sneed or Clyde.

A great all-rounder. See artist rendering.

Professional rendering of the mighty tapir. Art by me.

This was my holiday message. Thank you for reading it. Please look forward to more letters about writing and creativity in the coming year.

If you have a moment, however, I will elaborate further. I did indeed go to the zoo the other day. That’s where I saw the tapirs. Life changing. Importantly though, it was one of the first big outings I did with my partner’s extended family. Years back, her family and I had kicked off on some shaky ground since I had been flaky when it came to starting the relationship. But it’s a nice stage of life now to learn another family’s pace, quirks, and to know your partner’s world better. 

My partner’s name is also Jade. We did not seek each other out for that reason, but it happened all the same. Our name always makes me think of her before it makes me think of me. She’s the better of us two Jades. She’s lovely, hilarious, and the type to pack a leash on a road trip in case she crosses a stray to take to a shelter. 

Back at the zoo — on any other day, I probably would have most enjoyed seeing the tortoises. But when we passed the tapirs, my Jade got the biggest smile on her face. She used that excited voice that animal lovers get when they see any good creature — letting out an instinctual “oh ho ho” as we got up close. One came up to sniff her hand, and she fawned over the texture of its nose. Her brother and the rest of her family there got equally excited, and at that moment, I was very happy to get caught up in their pace. Easier, better, every time. Again, tapirs are the best animal.