Flamingoes in the Bathroom

A group of flamingoes is called a “flamboyance.” Among all the interesting names for groups of animals, this is my favorite. A flamboyance of flamingoes were sheltered in a zoo bathroom earlier this month by caring zoo staff in anticipation of a hurricane. Among that particular group of 30 was their leader, Mr. Sparklepants. He is the dominant group member at the zoo in Panama City Beach. I would like to be personal friends with someone with that name.

Why the bathroom? Herding the flamingoes into the zoo bathroom was not simply a random act of kindness. It was an intentional strategy that had been tried and tested since Hurricane Andrew roared through Florida in 1992. The bathrooms have thick concrete walls and small windows. The walls provide protection from strong winds and the small windows, usually placed up high, protect from flying glass. They have a ready supply of water that can be filled and saved for the flamingoes while confined. Bathrooms can be easily cleaned up after the storm. I have not seen video of this process nor do I care to. Nor do I want to be responsible for it. Bless those zoo workers. I imagine they have dealt with worse.

A serendipity.The flamingoes were captured on video posing and admiring their reflections in the bathroom’s mirrors. When you are part of a flamboyance, why not make the most of it?

Flamingoes can’t stay in the bathroom. I don’t know how long they had to stay in the bathroom, but this interesting accommodation could rapidly deteriorate. Water, but no food, inadequate “personal” space could lead to consequences I do not want to imagine. Mr. Sparklepants would lose his luster and begin to throw his weight around. In the video that was captured, there were feathers on the floor. That could only get worse. Flamingoes are wading birds. Nowhere to wade in there.

Why bring this up? I will not go into detail, other than to say things are pretty chaotic in the world right now. It is not the first time and it won’t be the last, but it is the moment in which we live. One doesn’t even need to read the articles. Just scanning headlines is enough to get the gist of things. A midterm election has not drawn this amount of energy and attention and angst in my lifetime.

We each have beauty and gifts and sparkle, like the flamingoes. We also need protection and calm when it feels like stress might overwhelm. I hope you have a place to tuck into that is safe for you during the current storms. Some people are more practiced at going quiet and recharging than others. Many of us just squawk and mill around. Try not to be one of the voices that amplify distress. There are enough of those.

Take shelter as needed, but don’t stay in there. Putting ourselves temporarily in the concrete bathroom can be a renewing “time out.” No news. No texts and emails. No anxious conversations. My guess is it wouldn’t be long before what once felt safe felt confining. We need each other. We need to spread our wings and to show our colors. And, my heavens, the world needs our sparkle.

Zoo flamingoes have their wings clipped so they stay in the aviary. Not so with you.

You were meant to take flight, show your colors and be who you were meant to be.