This is the present that Kylie has been wanting to be given her for a long long time. She has always loved the ocean animals, and has had a special affinity for dolphins as far back as any of us can remember. When she was younger, she got the chance to touch a dolphin, and was truly enamored with these majestic creatures. Her one goal at Sea World was to touch a dolphin. Our first attempt was thwarted, as we arrived at the habitat too late to be able to purchase food and stand in the intolerable human queue for our chance to feed the creatures. Instead, we gazed at the lucky ones from across the manmade pond, and jealously wished to be able to switch places with them. We did see dolphins swimming and frolicking in the water, and getting oh so close to our permanently outstretched digits. We tried and tried, but without success. A couple of separate attempts almost secured this goal in the win column, but more about that later.
The Shamu show.
When Christy and I were young, we both visited Sea World. My recollection is not so much of the park, the animals or the shows, but the single token object that I returned home with ( a sea lion ), that my brother destroyed by throwing into the unfinished closet of our home. When the glass sea lion struck the hard concrete of that small alcove, it shattered into as many pieces as my poor young heart did. I have often remembered this action and missed object with a longing on those that grow up without can understand. Not that the object would have embettered my life by any means, but its lose was still quantifiable. My goal was to get a sea lion to replace he one cruelly destroyed by my brother. You know who you are.
Christy was able to remember much more of her adventure at Sea World, and actually remembers seeing Shamu perform. As we sat with the children in the Soak Section of the ampitheater, eagerly awaiting the time when the show would commence, the excitement in the air around the Belt family was palpable. That smirk that turned into a grin was almost plastered from ear to ear on each of the children, and even moreso than could have been anticipated upon Kylie's face. Once the show began, it rivaled any performance of the 4th of July with its oohs and aahs and excited shrill squeals. The kids all loved it. All 5 of them.
The rest of the Park.
After the Shamu show, we made our way slowly around the rest of the park. Half the time was spent waling from place to place, half of the rest of the time seemed to be spent trying to find our way out of the ever present gift stores, and the rest of the time was actually spent watching animals. We saw as many attractions as we could. We spent as little as we could on food and gifts.
We saw killer whales, dolphins, bat rays, eels, starfish, otters, penguins, octopus, and so on. So many animals, so many smiles, so many great experiences.
I was able to find a plastic sea lion in one of he 300 shops to replace the one so cruely taken from my youth. $5 later, I had satisfied my own personal goal. Kylie's goal of touching a dolphin, was more elusive. After 3 attempts at the habitat, we stood near the water, reaching out into the wet to hope for that chance encounter, only to hear the worker announce that they were closing the area in 10 minutes, then in 5 minutes, then it was closed. We had failed. No touch. No experience. Kylie was so sad. Defiantly we stood our ground a few more minutes hoping that now, of all times, one of these beautiful sea creatures would stop close enough to be touched. When the worker approached us, kylie turned to him and asked if he could help her to touch a dolphin. He conceded and called Ripley over to us, and granted Kylie, Alyssa and myself the chance to caress these gentle creatures. I didnt even have to look at Kylies face to be able to feel the warmth of the smile now plastered across her face. Her goal was met. She met a 13 year old dolphin named Ripley, who's memory now lives within the huge stuffed animal she purchased with Christmas money from grandparents to commemorate that wondrous creature experience.
Kylie was amazed that palm trees dotted the earth, and kept wanting to touch them.
The girls on the shuttle to Sea World
The boys on the shuttle to Sea World
Belt family finally made it to Sea World
The kids first up close experience with the killer whales
No use putting a caption to describe the experience above
Silent pleading to touch a dolphin
The kids enjoyed posing
Some of our favorite creatures
Peak a boo
I'm trying to hide
Enjoying this sooo much
All enjoying this so much
Attempting to make faces as ugly as the eels already had faces
Waiting for Shamu
Waiting for Shamu
Trey started braying like the sea lions were doing as soon as he heard them.
Girls as penguins
Boys as penguins
I know it ain't cali, but we have palm trees dotting the earth in the south too, and we have Sea World! Shamu, and dophins that can be touched at any point of the day without standing in line!!!
ReplyDeleteCOME VISIT
I can almost feel the warmth of the California sun in your expressions, and definitely the delight in the awe-some animals and sights you are enjoying. It's almost as if I were there, enjoying listening to Trey's braying, watching the growth of Kylie's wonder, seeing sweet Lyssa's delight, giggling with Christy because she feels warmth--finally and my boy's poignancy at replacing a long lost treasure. Thanks for sharing Sea World with us in the most relaxed way I have ever been there. Love MOM.
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