…between moms and baby pandas, especially for all of us watching Bao Bao and her mom Mei Xiang. Let’s be clear here: Pandas do not live in family units, and after cubs reach the point where they can eat bamboo like a big bear, it’s time for them to seek their fortune in the real world.
It is rather disconcerting for the folks watching at home on their panda cams, especially because the relationship between cubs and their mom is so sweet…at least, just before the time mom turns around and runs them off, sometimes quite aggressively. Parting is such sweet sorrow, only in the movies, not among bears.
But that’s in real life, and this is Panda Satire!
Just a reminder: repeat after me: this is fiction.
Does Pinky have a new friend and confidant? Stay tuned, oh panda satire fans!
BTW: I was just interviewed on The Inspokes blog, a blog for writers and illustrators of books for children. I hope you’ll pop over and give my interview about Pandamorphosis a read.
Huzzah!
Be the Bear,
Bob T. Panda
Larry to the rescue! Glad to see you decided to hire him on as Pinky’s mentor and sidekick. 🙂
Yes, Thanks Sandy! He’ll be back on Wednesday too, and then who know where he’ll turn up! I guess there will be a couple more signed prints coming your way!
Larry! A special guest starring role?
I’m thinking Larry will have a kind of recurring guest spot…We will have to be careful around Mehitabel, if you know what I mean? Pinky was somewhat perturbed that while the Meihems have each other, she would essentially be on her own, so Larry offered to step in, in an advisory capacity. More on Wednesday!
Oh don’t bweak my heart! Poor little Pinky! Luckily her “real” persona seems to be taking all this in stride. Besides, yesterday they had a really good time together. Where does it say that the little rat’s name is “Larry”?
I think that will be revealed on Wednesday. I only know this because the DC panda crew have spoken of him (heck, we don’t even know if Larry is a ‘he’ or if it’s always the same mouse) and Sandra suggested he make an appearance with Pinky.
I can’t help myself: I just had to have a Pinky melt down, even though her real life counterpart seems to be taking the next phase of her life in stride. But that wouldn’t be funny, now would it? Don’t worry, Pinky always comes out on top!
awwww….Poor little Pinky…..thankfully, she has a little [quite] friend who loves her, too….
Pinky wears her emotions on her sleeve: mad, sad, happy or megalomaniac, Pinky goes for the gusto. But fear not, her emotions are like the ever changing tides, ebbing and flowing. Pinky always comes out on top.
Oh No! Pinky in tears!! But she looks so cute crying.
Is Larry a descendant of the mouse that was in Paris with Minette?
I’m not yet sure what Larry’s history is, but his family’s connection with pandas goes way back, so it is possible.
I’m sorry, once again to make Pinky resolve into tears (my bad!) but it’s just so much fun! Does that make me a bad person?…um Panda?
So sad, but so sweet! Like other posters, I’m glad the real Bao Bao is doing OK. It’s probably harder on us humans observing them than it is on the pandas! Thank goodness for Larry!
It is definitely harder on the humans than it is on the pandas. I think Mr. Wu was a little sad, and missed his mom, but he adjusted quite quickly to being on his own as a big bear. I was not watching the pandas yet when Tai Shan was weaned.of course it was Mei Xiang’s first cub, and from what I am told by those who have been long time panda followers in DC, is that Bao Bao is much more independent than her big brother was.
Pinky, of course, is another story, but she is quite the little drama queen.