Hello Joe and your crew,

You might not even remember me, but that is ok, not to many people do. But your animals, your cause, your crew member Vicki and you, are forever implanted in my mind and in my heart. Let me tell you why.

Your animals, are God's most beautiful creatures that has every walked this planet. Their grace, their pride, their strength and most of all their free spirit are the most amazing thing I could ever set my eyes on. I wish I could watch them everyday of my life, you are lucky you can. Ever since I was very little I could never get enough of the zoo and I still can't today. Tigers and Lions have been my favorite animal for as long as I can remember. Being able to hold and play with them was a dream come true.

Your cause -- to educate people on the animals, to educate them on the propose of saving them. I wish I knew more so I could help. I am not a smart person, if I was I would not be a factory worker. To talk to and educate the children of this world on the importance of saying no to drugs and no to drinking and driving and the way you do it, is more affected than you will ever know. I work with a lot of young people, that are right around 21 years of age and I try to talk to them, I don't lecture to them, they don't need that, but I try to get them to think before they do something that could destroy a lot of lives and to some of them I have give them my phone number and tell them to call me before they get behind the wheel, I don't care about the time, I care about their life. And to my surprise some have used it.

Your crew member Vicki -- she saved my life. It is hard to explain with out going into a lot of details, but with a simple " Hello" at Brann's from her and making me feel like I was someone important earlier that day, stopped me from doing something that could of ended my life. THANK YOU, VICKI !!!!

And for you, Joe -- I have never seen a magic show, so watching yours was so cool and I was amazed by all the tricks, wondering how you do them. I know you will never tell me but I can still wonder. You touch a lot of hearts, young and old, with your passion for your cause. That is amazing not to many people can do. You gave me something I have been looking for, for a very long time, a purpose to live, a reason to live, a cause to live for. I am not a wealthy person, I live paycheck to paycheck, just trying to get by and out of debt from things I did when I was younger. I am not even sure my job is stable, so I can not agree to adopting a lion or a tiger, even though I really want to, but what I can agree to is to send you some money from time to time, it might not be much but hopefully it will help in some small way. 20 dollars is in the mail to the park as I e-mail you this.

you say you don't have a great job because you are on the road 364 days a year and put a show on at least 200 days a year. Educating people on your Exotic Animal Memorial Park that you run and the importance of not drinking and driving and saying no to drugs. Your job is a very important one, the most important one I have found yet. Doctors save lives but they don't have the passion behind them like you do. Your message does not just reach the children but to the adults that are watching and listening as well. You are more amazing than you will every know. Weather you know it or not you save lives, many lives, animals and humans alike, with your caring, your respect of life of the animals and the life of others, your message. You and your job has a meaning and a purpose in this crazy world of ours. In my eyes you have the best paying job in the world. The respect, the joy and the Love from the animals you are saving, as well as the respect and love from the hearts you have touched with your cause.

So just remember you have a life long friend here in Zeeland, Michigan. If you are ever back in town and need help with anything, feel free to give me a call, I will help in anyway I can. The simplest thing a person says or does can change the life of an animal or a human and that is what your animals, your crew and you have done for me.

So thank you for the simplest little thing, of saying "Hello" when I needed it the most, that changed and saved my life.

Your friend for life,

Beverly Watson

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Hi Joe,
I hope all is well with you.  I also hope all of those tornadoes in OK
missed your park and critters.  I worry about that every time I hear of
storms there.
I have some news that probably won't mean a whole lot to anyone else but I
gotta tell someone or I'm going to burst.  I got a call this morning about a
poetry contest I had entered.  I write all the time, I think that is what
keeps me from going bonkers, well, right after you guys had been here for
the first time last June I did some writing.  Some of the things in your
song and story, and talking to one of the girls you work with inspired me to
write about some things that I usually refuse to talk about or even think
about.  Back to the good news, this is a nationwide contest and I have made
it through to the final round, which already means I will win some $$$$,
(even though that is not why I do this) but if I actually were to win the
contest it would be some money and a new computer.  Joe since I have been on
my own with my boy there is so much that needs done at my house and this
would make that possible to complete some much needed work on my house.  I
thought I would share this with you since you and yours inspired me to
scratch out a poem.
I really do hope your shows and travels are going smoothly.  Your first show
here at our mall falls on my Son, Samuel's 17th Birthday, I will try to have
him out here, but the only thing anyone really knows about Autism is that
you never know what will happen next, some times the crowd is too much for
him and sometimes he acts as if he doesn't even notice them.  And I know we
will have a crowd.
See ya soon,
Kathy