Some of the things I once thought I knew haven’t stood the test of time. I know what I love. That’s a long list. I know what I hate. That’s a short list. But in contemplating the world around me, what do I know for sure?
Over the years my travels have taken me to all kinds places and immersed me in close encounters with people and wildlife. I’ve stood face to face with indigenous people whose culture and language were as unrecognizeable to me as mine to them. Initially this seemed an insurmountable barrier to communication. But who needs the same language and culture to express warmth and curiosity and humor and hunger and caring and a helping hand? Even more profound, you don’t have to be the same species. I’ve found similar characteristics in communicating with animals and wildlife. Talk about different cultures and language! We’ve all had these experiences with our beloved pets but I can tell you it goes far beyond that.
That's me on the bottom right reaching out to a baby gray whale who repeatedly surfaced to watch and splash us
Once I went to Baja and spent time in an inflatable raft – a zodiac - in the lagoons where the gray whales migrate to give birth. We were at water level with these spectacular marine mammals and could see mother-calf pairs spouting and surfacing around us. Then a very surprising thing happened. A mother swam with her very young calf to our zodiac and surfaced right next to us. They stayed with us for some time as the calf, who was only a few weeks old, repeatedly surfaced to look at us and splash while mother kept watch. I know I was communicating – joy and excitement - as I instinctively reached out but couldn’t quite touch. And the baby gray was certainly captivated by us. The connection was there. It was tangible if unexplainable.
Then the mother did a remarkable thing. She swam within inches of the stern of our zodiac, suddenly dove and swam underneath us and then gently surfaced at the bow with inches to spare. I was able to caress her back as she carefully surfaced.
Caressing the mother gray whale's back
She was also reaching out and communicating in her way. These were wild marine mammals. So what do I know for sure? We are truly connnected with all life on earth.
Tell me what you know for sure. What has stood the test of time for you? Join me in the journey.
Becci Crowe
Adventure Artist
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