I smiled so big visiting your zoo. The state tag story got me too because my playground also had a "China" and it was a hole you could fit in under the sidewalk at the edge. "China" was eventually demolished and we were all banned from going there.
THANK YOU for adding my site to your cool personal sites page! It is an honor. I love the stamps and buttons you made, the pokemon ones especially feel so nostalgic!
FAUST MENTIONED!!!!