About a year ago, when I was going through some really rough times, I decided to check out Tik Tok, for some distraction, when I came across Georgie Boy The
Capuchin Monkey. His videos made me smile, laugh, and brought me happinesss..
I fell in love with the little guy from afar,and it prompted my interest in the study of monkeys, along with the desire to have one of my own. Unfortunately for me, primates are illegal here in the state of Pennsylvania, so having one of my own to love, is out of the question, unless I move to another state like Florida. Since that is not feasible at this time, I could only continue with watching adorable smiley faced Georgie and his antics on video..
Georgies family got him at around a year old, after being rehomed many times, as therapy for his mother who is suffering from a terrible disease. Her son-In-Law Will who is married to her youngest daughter, took part in the videos, like his weekly fan mail Friday, where Georgie would open up all the gifts that were sent to him by his fans and faithful followers. Everyone looked forward to seeing what he would get next.
He was so smart, he played with gifts like I Pads, I Phones, and tools, and loved to "Read" the instruction manuals that came with his gifts." Curious George", fit him to a tee! He had human like brown eyes, and would furrow his brows, when he looked at something that he was trying to figure out. He loved to look at books and magazines too, and would often point out at objects in the magazine, like a pair of shoes or a bathing suit.
Georgie even knew how to pop the pimples on his buddy Will's face, and it was evident how much they loved each other. Even Dr. Pimple Popper was a fan, and sent him some tshirts and a mug from her show. On a recent occasion Georgie did a Facebook Live with a famous artist, where fans could download papers and paint right along with him.
Georgie was sponsored by many companies like Fab Fit Fun, a mattress company, and many others that offered discounts to his fans.
Since every fanmail Friday was like Christmas for Georgie Boy, and he received so many gifts,and could not possibly keep all of them, the family donated some of them to ill, and underpriveleged children.
Most recently in May, Georgie and his sister Lacy helped celebrate Mother's Day, and also Georgie's 12th birthday.. The family had a big online Facebook party, with a full version on You Tube, so all of his fans could celebrate.
One of gerorgies favorite things to get as gifts were food,,, When it was fanmail Friday he would search out the dried fruit and nuts fan sent him, and a few of his last videos were him munching on nuts when Will was sleeping, and another of him eating sunflower seeds in his high chair..
On June 7th a note was posted by the family asking for prayers because he went to the vet for routine dental care and was sedated, and while under he aspirated into his lungs and was not breathing on his own. We all sent our healing thoughts and prayers to him, and held our breath.
For 24 hrs we did not hear an update, and I feared the worst. I was still up at 230 am, and had periodically kept checking, and decided to look before going to bed. There it was on Tik Tok, The social media platform that made Georgie the most internationally famous monkey in the world, with almost 18 million followers, even more fans then humans. My worst fears were confirmed, and I was an absolute wreck, and could not sleep, I was crying and had to call a friend that I knew would still be up that I could talk to. I got barely any sleep, and the next morning started sharing his video about his passing away, repeatedly on my Facebook page and stories. Every time I watched that video I cried my eyes out, and all that day, so I decided to put up memorials to Georgie. The one I put on Tik Tok, where he was most famous, in 24 hours over 10 thousand people saw my little memorial with Whitney Houston singing "I Will Always Love You", in the background, with almost 1 thousand likes and 200 messages of his fans in shock and mourning over his passing.
Many people would think we are crazy to be upset and mourning the loss of a monkey, and one we have never even met. That goes to show you how much of an impact Georgie Boy had to his followers of all ages, and all over the world! We looked forward to seeing his videos almost every day, and wished we could hug and kiss that sweet little boy, who brought smiles to our faces, so much joy and won the hearts of his millions of followers. We are going to miss him so much, and now the task is for his family and fans to grieve together and heal from mourning his loss. Georgie may have only lived 12 out of his possibly 45 years on earth, but he was such a happy boy and so loved! There will never be another monkey like Georgie Boy, he was very special. Thank you for letting us into your life, even for a short time. We will always love you Georgie Boy!!!
Alexxis Steele
