t h n o e s L e f o f o a se r i G • Mary Augusta Neal
By Christianna Marks
D
uring the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, right after the world shut down, local resident Mary Augusta Neal found a way to bring smiles to people’s faces in Atascadero when she started creating displays on her fence with wooden cutouts of giraffes. The display started with a single giraffe on her fence that her brother sent to her after having an artist from Oceanside make as a gift at the beginning of COVID. Little did Mary know that she would be the highlight for many people as they passed by each day. “My brother has a dog which he takes for a walk by this guy named Dean’s home, up by where he lives in Oceanside — he does these wooden art pieces. He [Dean] has “Star Wars” creations and always decorates his house totally to the hilt. So, my brother talked to him about making me a giraffe because my nickname was Gussie growing up, and people used to give me Gus the Giraffe birthday cards each year. I think back then is when I really started my affection for giraffes. I think they are the most beautiful and calm...you know, non-predatory animal in existence,” Mary shared. “My brother sent me Gus (the first giraffe)...his name wasn’t named Gus then, but that’s when I decided to name him.” Mary was then sent Charlie (the second giraffe) anonymously. She still doesn’t know who sent him, but fell in love with him as soon as she saw him. From there, Mary explained that she was ready to extend the family, “I wanted a mom and a dad
Mary Augusta Neal with her wooden giraffe cutouts in 2021. Photo by Hayley Mattson
[giraffe]. So, my brother had the artist Dean make the mom and the dad. I wanted a straw hat and the pink bow, and I wanted a son [giraffe], too. And that’s where Gus, Augusta, and Gussie came from.” Mary decided that the son giraffe was going to be named JJ, after her brother John Joseph. He went by JJ growing up. John wanted the giraffe to have a rebellious streak, so he had him made wearing surfer shades and a bow tie.
“So that’s how JJ came to be, and now the family’s complete. Well, like I say, it’ll pull down my fence if I put too many more out there. But I think it’s plenty now,” Mary said of her five giraffes. Other people have anonymously added to the giraffe display. Mary recalls when someone left four little giraffes on the ground next to her fence. She added them to her display until they became too weathered to stay outside. To protect the others from the elements, Mary painted over the large giraffes with a clear coat so they will last longer. Along with her family of giraffes, Mary started putting up signs on her fence throughout 2020 and 2021, thanking frontline workers in the community and celebrating the big days of the year. Including holidays and things like Back to School. “I love doing it. I love making my little signs. Somebody said to me, ‘well, maybe everybody around you thinks you’re nuts?’ I went, well, I am a little bit, so that’s okay,” Mary said with a laugh. The giraffes on Mary’s fence made a huge impact on the Atascadero residents who have seen them and brought a little splash of light to them during a dark time for all of us — making people feel connected while we all had to stay apart. “I’m glad it’s bringing pleasure to everybody and not just me because I love doing it,” Mary shared. The giraffes can still be seen on the corner of Carson and Portola.
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18 | May 2022
Atascadero News Magazine
