Hmmm...

In an earlier blog post back in November, I talked about the fact that there was a Panda wedding in Thailand. And by wedding, I mean procession, music, cake, reception, guests (humans dressed in Panda suits) , and an ice sculpture.

Well, today, China held a birthday party for Basi - a 25-year old panda. What exactly do you get for the 25-year old Panda that has everything? Well, according to the article in the The Age, Basi was "showered her with presents and even her own website."

And as you can see from the picture above, Basi sat on a stool with a paper crown on her head and a plastic fork in her hand as two zookeepers fed her birthday cake.

**Some more details on the Basi Birthday Bash in Beijing (bonus points for the alliteration, s'il-vous plait):
**A song was specially written for the occasion and a special website was created for Basi. So far more than 5,000 people have viewed it. No truth to the rumor that Elton John offered a tune called "Panda in the Wind."
** Special stamps, postcards and calendars were also published for the big day
**The giant panda is also notorious for its lack of interest in sex.

The last note is kinda "out there." But I think it's proper to show that humans and Pandas are different. (with the exception of the "Marquette panda" in the photo, but that's another story altogether)

Don't think of 25 years old in human years. 25 year old humans go to the upper East Side to get drunk and hook up. 25 year old Pandas don't. They suffer through needless attention and ask to be brought back to their homes so they can eat soft food in solitude.

Pandas should get some sort of Panda Willard Scott to wish them a happy, happy, tell everyone that she still knits and waterskiis, has 77 grandchildren, and oh, boy, isn't she a pretty lady.

On behalf of TLBR Nation, and the entire world, I wish you a Happy Birthday Basi.
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One.