I was permitted to visit Koko the gorilla in her quarters and Koko was an extraordinary animal who had learned to communicate with human beings. She was able to sign more than 600 hundred words but more impressively as her handlers told me, she understood the meaning of those words. She knew the signs for water and for bird and the first time she saw a duck landing on a lake she signed "waterbird." That displayed a synthesis of knowledge, so you see, she was obviously very intelligent. I was allowed to go to her compound and enter a room with her all alone, as I walked into that room I was reminded she was an imposing, powerful animal. Smaller gorillas had been known to tear off mens arms in anger.Watch Bill and Koko
I'm not often afraid but truthfully I was frightened. There’s a form of acting that teaches. Feel it and say it and that feeling will be revealed through your words. The English form is quite different. Say it and then you feel it. To deal with my fear of this magnificent animal as i got closer and closer to it, I found myself saying, I love you Koko, I love you. I said it earnestly and honestly and I looked directly into her eyes as I spoke. I crouched over a little to show submission moving forwards rather than backwards to show I was not afraid.
Over and over I repeated "I Love You Koko, I Love You." and as I said it I began to feel that love, finally I stopped directly in front of her and looked into her deep brown eyes and I saw her furrowed brow and enormous hands "I Love You Koko" and with that she reached out and grabbed me by my balls and looked me right in the eyes and after a slight pause in a substantially higher voice, I tried to repeat, "I love you Koko" Obviously these words had more significance than a few seconds earlier.
Live Long and Prosper, Trekkies and Trekkers.
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