BY LAURA DOUGLASS, SLI Reporter
If you find a six-foot tall giraffe unexpectedly on your porch, grab your camera and have some fun.
“Geoffrey” has been making his way around Seven Lakes since early January, spreading cheer wherever he goes.
Jayme Cox and her family were the first to share photos of their surprise houseguest on the Seven Lakes North and South Families Facebook page.
“A few neighbors and I enjoy playing fun innocent pranks on each other. We ‘boo’ each other at Halloween, hide Easter Eggs in each other’s yards and send Christmas prank gifts,” Cox said.
One day she came home to find Geoffrey sitting on a rocking chair on their porch with a note that simply read, “LOL.”
Her two sons and their friends took Geoffrey on the trampoline, out for bike rides and even a trip on a golf cart. When they returned, Cox said they discussed sharing the fun with neighbors.
“The boys chose a family that were new to the community to start the fun with an attached note on Geoffrey’s necklace that read, “My name is Geoffrey and I love to travel and have adventures in 7 Lakes. I cannot stay long and I must be on my way soon. You made me smile, I hope I made you smile. Please help me find more neighbor friends to share the fun! May the odds be forever in your favor.”
Once Geoffrey was on his way, he never looked back, Cox added.
“The young and young at heart love getting visits from Geoffrey. His intentions are to bring joy to all. Seven Lakes is like an extended family who accepted Geoffrey and all of his shenanigans. Residents started posting pictures of his travels with all of his new friends and crazy things he has been up to.”
Like all great heroes of tall tales, Geoffrey comes from humble beginnings: the N.C. State Fair.
Ericka Leap and her husband were expecting their first child and had decorated the nursery in their Northside home with a zoo theme.
Her parents, aunt and uncle, who all live nearby in Seven Lakes West, had driven to Raleigh to enjoy the fair in the fall of 2019.
“My uncle Kirk saw the huge giraffe at one of the games and told me later, he was thinking, “This is perfect. She needs this in her nursery,” Leap said.
It took him a few tries — and some time studying how the game worked — before he won the plush toy of gigantic proportions. When they arrived back home, they called Leap outside.
“My uncle is bringing the giraffe out of the car and I’m thinking, “Where will this fit in the house? It was taller than me and it weighs a ton!” Leap laughed.
Geoffrey stayed with the family for about a year before they decided to re-gift him to neighbors.
“They had a younger child and we literally just walked the giraffe across the road with some leftover birthday party decorations and left him there on their porch.”
Around New Year’s, Geoffrey was on the move again, arriving at the Cox’s doorstep.
“It’s been cool seeing his travels in the community,” said Leap, especially since stirring up community spirit is a family tradition.
Leap’s mother, Laura Von Zup, started the original red floating friendship ball on Lake Auman two summers ago.
“People were always on the lookout for it. The idea was if you found the ball, you’d sign it and put it back in the lake,” she said. “The friendship giraffe was more by happenstance.”
The lakefront home of Rodney and Tonya Godwin, the unofficial mayor and first lady of Seven Lakes North, was one of Geoffrey’s early stops. The big guy played pool and even made a special guest appearance on “Rodney Live & Friends,” Godwin’s live acoustic music broadcast on Facebook.
Savannah Ribet’s family was another of Geoffrey’s early stops.
“My kids loved it so much, as well as my cat, Puddles!” Ribbet said.
Geoffrey enjoyed hugs and snuggles, and a ride around the neighborhood in the back of the family’s truck, before embarking on his next adventure.
“We found a nice porch to pass Geoffrey off to, “Ribbet said, “and I’m sure that family enjoyed the surprise!”
Contact Laura Douglass at (910) 693-2475.
