Burt Rhino (and Paul)
I have a new Facebook friend, Burt Rhino. It took me a while to find him. I’d been searching for Burt the Rhino, Bert the Rhino, etc. Turns out, this stuffed toy’s brand name is Burt Rhino and I just happened to stumble across an ad for it.
The Burt I met was a traveler, stuffed into a leather duffle bag and taken on a cruise under Niagara Falls in Canada. At first, I was a bit suspicious that the traveler inside the bag was in fact a bomb or something equally nefarious. I kept staring with great suspicion at the man carrying the bag. I heard him tell his companion that he was ready to bring out the beast! Code word for an explosive device? I kept staring at him, working up the courage to make a flying leap and fall on the grenade, or whatever it was. Because of my unwavering gaze, I was treated to the sight of a stuffed rhino being pulled from the bag. Then the gent posed for photos while holding the rhino, as the boat drew closer to the falls.
Burt Rhino at Niagara Falls
Later, on firm ground, I found that man and asked him what that was all about. He explained that the toy belonged to a friend’s young daughter, who was being hospitalized in England. Friends of the family would volunteer to take the toy with them while making trips to various places around the world. Then they would post their photos to Burt’s Facebook page, all for the enjoyment of the little girl.
I’m embarrassed that it took me so long to find the Facebook page. After watching with bated breath while the gentleman (whose name, I learned from Facebook, was Paul) removed “the beast” from his bag, I felt that I had made a connection with Burt. So now I’m his Facebook friend. With any luck, I’ll see Burt again on my travels.