several years ago (maybe five or six now?), my mom, my sister and I went to mexico. this was one of the best vacations i have ever had. we sat by the pool, or on the beach, sipping 'miami vice' drinks (a beautiful blend of strawberry daiquiri and pina colada in a layered fashion). we slept in and drank black coffee at breakfast (that's cafe sin leche- not cafe negro, which i tried ordering on my first night.) it was such a wonderful bonding time with two of my favorite people in the world. one of the most unexpected experiences that i still cherish, to this day, was my meeting and swimming with a dolphin. one day, on our way back to our room, we passed one of those "dolphin adventure" brochures on a wall of flyers. my sister instantly declared that we were doing this. i, not being so in love with ocean animals that are double my height and weigh enough to crush a smart car, instantly replied, "okay, whatever." i didn't really think we'd do it. until we were standing in line on a dock, waiting for our life vests and a man with a thick spanish accent was giving us safety instructions before we were able to meet our new friends. even at that point, i still had a small feeling that this was not really going to happen. but, it happened. i got into murky-green water and awaited my go-ahead signal. i repeated the instructions (or what i had understood) over and over in my head as i watched this massive creature approach me. i broke into a cold sweat that was masked by the hot water. and then, by no allowance on my part, i met flipper (or felipe?) and it was... amazing. not intimidating, not life-threatening, not even remotely scary. his eyes looked deep into mine and i swear, he smiled. we shook hands; we danced; and then he allowed me to ride his fin to the other side of the pool. i fell in love with my new friend, and i had a whole new respect for marine biology.
i thought of this tonight, as i nursed the baby back to sleep for the second time. i rocked her and stared up at the ceiling, where her projected ocean-life mobile spun in a bluish hue. the dolphin swam past with his big cartoony smile and i thought all the way back to my friend. my big non-intimidating, cuddly, wet friend. how absolutely terrified i was minutes before he looked into my eyes, and how instantly relieved i was just seconds after i knew him. this seems so much like so many things that happen in life. a big job interview instantly calmed by a soothing HR person; a new city that becomes as familiar as home after a few loops around the blocks; a new life that seems impossible until you stare into the eyes of your new baby and know that everything will always be okay. i never knew that a huge grey mammal could teach me all of this; nor did i ever think that 5+ years later i'd be writing about him and relating his calmness to the meeting of a new child- but he did, and i am. and it all came back to me from a simple projected image of a blue cartoon dolphin with a big smile on a vast ceiling. thanks, felipe, for all the memories.
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