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May 29, 2014

If I Ran The Zoo….

45 Comments/ 3434/ 0

shareasimageOne of my favorite Dr. Seuss books is entitled “If I Ran the Zoo”.  In the book the story goes something like this.   Young Gerald McGrew visits a zoo and while he is there he finds that the animals that are living there are just not quite exotic enough.  He thinks that “if he ran the zoo” he would do it a bit differently and have animals that were indeed rare even if they were imaginary. As the book goes on, in true Dr. Seuss style, the animals that young McGrew envisions get crazier and crazier with the illustrations depicting creations that only existed in the mind of Dr. Seuss himself.  An example ? He would seek out animals such as

the Fizza-ma-Wizza-ma-Dill, “the world’s biggest bird from the island of Gwark, who eats only pine trees, and spits out the bark.

As you can imagine if you have not read the book before the animals get odder and odder, stranger and stranger and the reader gets to wondering what will come next.

Thinking about this children’s book make me think about what it would look like If I Ran the Zoo…..or if I Ran the World.  I have always commented when I didn’t like something that “If I Ran the Zoo”….. or World…..

If I ran the world:

  • Everyone would wake up with a smile on their face.  Maybe our faces would have permanent smiles.  Or a tattooed smile somewhere on our foreheads. That might work.
  • There would be no such thing as cooked carrots. Anyplace. Ever. They simply would not exist.
  • Coffee cups and tea cups would never go empty. They would be endless cups and always with just the perfect amount of sugar and creamer to the drinker’s liking.
  • Drivers would be considerate and obey all of the rules of the road.
  • Children would always listen to their parents and respect them.
  • Physical and mental illness would not exist.  We would all have perfect bodies that never needed any maintenance or adjustments.
  • There would be no violence of any kind–no shape or form of it would exist.
  • There would be no meetings that went on and on with no real purpose or goal —everyone would follow perfect protocol in meetings and make things happen as a result.
  • There would be a Hobby Lobby in every town.
  • The barter system would be in place for all of our needs. Need your sidewalk shoveled????  Payment in cookies.  Need your car fixed?  Payment in computer help.
  • There would be no animals that would kill you.  Or maybe better—those animals would exist but they would not have a predatory bone in their body. We could still enjoy them but they would not be dangerous.
  • Computers would always work. Always.
  • Everyone would embrace individuality and uniqueness.  No one would stare at someone who was different in any way.  In general everyone would be loved and accepted.

So there is a starter list of things that would be different if I ran the world.  How about you?  What would you add if you ran the world???

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Children's literature Hobby Lobby if I ran the world If I Ran the Zoo perfect world utopia
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45 Comments

Leave a comment
  1. Virginia
    May 29, 2014 at 06:59 am

    No one would be homeless; everyone would know their wonderful worth.

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann
      May 29, 2014 at 07:04 am

      Perfect!!!!!

      Reply
  2. Marla aka Crazy Mom
    May 29, 2014 at 07:03 am

    What if our cups of coffee (tea) were always the perfect sipping temperature?
    Lovely post. 🙂

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann
      May 29, 2014 at 07:04 am

      OH yea—that too!!!!

      Reply
  3. Ann
    May 29, 2014 at 07:16 am

    If I ran the world, you could meet your best friend for coffee anytime!

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann
      May 29, 2014 at 07:17 am

      Aw…..PERFECT!!! Or sweet tea!

      Reply
  4. lclalor
    May 29, 2014 at 07:35 am

    Hmm, I just have to say I prefer cooked carrots to raw. If I ran the world I’d give everyone a job —that they love.

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann
      May 29, 2014 at 07:41 am

      Oh Laura, that is a perfect one!!!!! And I will forgive you for liking cooked carrots……..

      Reply
  5. Miranda Gargasz
    May 29, 2014 at 07:37 am

    That’s it! I’m moving to your zoo!

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann
      May 29, 2014 at 07:43 am

      Come on! I have tons of room!!!

      Reply
  6. Minnesota Prairie Roots
    May 29, 2014 at 07:41 am

    If I ran the world, everyone in a snowy northern climate, like Minnesota and Iowa, would have the entire summer off. Well, I suppose “essential employees” would need to continue working. That might not be too practical, so let’s say every employee gets at least four weeks minimum paid vacation annually.

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann
      May 29, 2014 at 07:45 am

      I like what your world would be like, too! And in our world practicality does not exist—it just is and it all works without any problem so no worries!!!!

      Reply
  7. Martha Duncan
    May 29, 2014 at 07:42 am

    If I ran the world I would cure cancer.

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann
      May 29, 2014 at 07:43 am

      Perfect one!!!! I love it!!! I agree. I hate cancer.

      Reply
  8. Dianna
    May 29, 2014 at 07:44 am

    Love them all (except I DO like cooked carrots!)…. I would add that every child would have a happy home with two parents…and no kitty (or dog) would be homeless.

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann
      May 29, 2014 at 07:45 am

      Perfect. We are going to have a wonderful world!!!!

      Reply
  9. behindthemask
    May 29, 2014 at 10:11 am

    No injustice, no corruption.

    Reply
  10. William Aiken
    May 29, 2014 at 10:16 am

    I wonder if our version of running the world will be what heaven is like?

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann
      May 29, 2014 at 10:22 am

      I am thinking there are a lot of parallels to that thought!!!!

      Reply
  11. todessakane2013
    May 29, 2014 at 12:11 pm

    Everyone would own cool teapots 🙂
    No one would be unloved or un-cared for.
    Everyone would be treated equally and fairly.
    Children would be allowed to be children and their joy and innocence would be protected.
    Everyone would be well fed and have access to clean water and sanitation.
    Everyone would be freely educated.
    And above all else everyone would know beyond any shadow of a doubt that they are loved, special, unique, gifted, valued, needed, wanted, treasured and awesome!!!

    Great post loved it 🙂

    Reply
  12. ..
    May 29, 2014 at 09:34 pm

    That everyone had a loving family and many good friends that followed the ten commandments.

    Reply
  13. Darlene
    May 29, 2014 at 10:14 pm

    There would be no bad news to report.
    Everyone would feel loved and appreciated.
    Travel would be free so you could visit anyone any time.

    (i know, I’m a dreamer!)

    Reply
  14. Pix Under the Oaks
    May 30, 2014 at 07:55 am

    All kitties would have homes and be loved and respected from the beginning of their lives until the end.
    We would be kind to each other.
    Fireworks, ATVs, and dirt bikes would not exist.
    I like your list Beth Ann, except for the carrots! I love carrots simmered in butter and a bit of sugar.

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann
      May 31, 2014 at 07:36 am

      Perfect additions. Perfect. Thanks! All except for the carrot part. You are one of those carrot pushers. I knew it!

      Reply
      1. Pix Under the Oaks
        May 31, 2014 at 08:39 am

        Beth Ann I am a carrot pusher.. 😀 You crack me up!!!

        Reply
        1. Beth Ann
          May 31, 2014 at 09:23 am

          I just call them as I see them, Pix!!!!

          Reply
  15. Lily
    May 31, 2014 at 08:24 am

    No one would wait in long lines.

    Reply
  16. Jennifer
    May 31, 2014 at 09:07 am

    Funny you mentioned cooked carrots, when Leslie was little she would not eat cooked carrots to save her life!

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann
      May 31, 2014 at 09:19 am

      She is a very smart girl!!! Very smart!!!

      Reply
  17. Jackie Cangro
    May 31, 2014 at 09:38 am

    I second your idea for bottomless coffee and tea cups. Yes!

    Of course I’d add that there would be no more homeless pets. And every animal (domestic or wild) would be treated with the respect they deserve.

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann
      May 31, 2014 at 09:39 am

      Perfect additions to the list! See what a wonderful world it would be if we ran the zoo?????

      Reply
  18. britt4freedom
    May 31, 2014 at 09:48 am

    Haha this is pretty cool:) great ideas!

    Reply
  19. Margie Pillsbury Chambers
    May 31, 2014 at 08:07 pm

    I would want everyone to be kinder to one another. Great post.

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann
      June 01, 2014 at 07:42 am

      That is a very good addition!

      Reply
  20. Leslie
    May 31, 2014 at 08:09 pm

    I love Dr. Seuss, especially the If I Ran the Zoo book. I think I would have to add a world without diseases (like diabetes, cancer, AIDS, malaria, etc.)

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann
      June 01, 2014 at 07:40 am

      Amen to that!

      Reply
  21. Ann Pillsbury
    June 01, 2014 at 10:03 pm

    No person or being would go hungry in the world.

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann
      June 02, 2014 at 06:57 am

      Perfect addition, Ann!

      Reply
  22. Deadlines – It's Just Life
    June 05, 2014 at 06:01 am

    […] was putting time limits on God.  I was telling Him that in my perfect world (remember If I Ran The Zoo?) things would be so perfect if only this and so happened by such a date and […]

    Reply
  23. The Presents of Presence
    June 05, 2014 at 06:41 am

    Health in body, mind and soul for all. Violence and illness are non-existent. We all Send Out Love! ♥

    Reply
  24. benzeknees
    June 05, 2014 at 01:34 pm

    I’m thinking your world might be called Heaven & really could never exist on our plane of existence, but it certainly would be nice if even half of these could come true!

    Reply
  25. pattisj
    June 21, 2014 at 02:12 pm

    Please run for President!! We are getting a Hobby Lobby!

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann
      June 22, 2014 at 07:01 am

      Oh you will love having a Hobby Lobby around! I am in there every week. 🙂

      Reply
  26. The Best of "It's Just Life" - It's Just Life
    August 25, 2017 at 06:00 am

    […] If I Ran the Zoo […]

    Reply
  27. Josh
    August 29, 2017 at 11:13 am

    If I ran the world internet speeds wouldn’t vary. Only fast speeds to listen to blubrry. Podcast fast internet speeds indeed whether for you or me. The internet would bleed fast speeds whether in the city or in the sticks you can listen to in the weeds.

    Reply

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