The Day After. . .

Today we actually slept in a bit. Then we got ready and went downtown. It was kind of cold- it never reached 50 degrees today.

We found the labyrinth in the park where I will be doing the workshop. I walked the labyrinth, and while I did, Chris picked up all of the trash lying on the ground in the park and threw it away. I married such a terrific guy. . .always doing the right thing!



Then we went to find the bookstore where I will do the second half of the workshop. We found it, but it was closed. So we walked to a bead and gem store and bought a couple of things.

Afterwards, Chris drove me to a spot where I could be close to the water. I disturbed a napping heron to take it's picture, and I was privy to the lunchtime diving show of the local pelicans. It was amazing to see- the pelicans flew in big circles and then dove straight down to grab a fish. If they were successful, they would surface and stretch out their wings and shake all the water off as they swallowed their fish. It was an amazing thing to watch!



On the way home, we drove over the bridge towards Pensacola Beach, and as I looked out over the water, I saw what looked like a shark fin in the water. I have seen dolphins many times before and I didn't think that's what I saw so I blinked, and looked again. Sure enough, there it was! A sharp grey fin cutting through the choppy surface of the water. I was so excited! A little freaked out, but excited. I've never seen a shark in it's own habitat before. Uncle Pat thinks it was a dolphin, but I am sure that it was not. I have seen many dolphins in the Atlantic in Delaware, and this fin and shape was completely different. To make things even more interesting, I had been thinking about a dog I had just met before we left for this trip. His name is Marley, and he is blind. His human (my friend Angela) takes him on walks on a retractable leash. He never stays by her side, waiting to be led. Instead, he always runs to the end of the leash, and sometimes he bumps into things. But he is never afraid, and he embraces the experience with joy! What a lesson to hear! I was thinking about it in terms of my snorkeling experience last year when I panicked after opening my eyes and not being able to see through the murky water. I was afraid of not seeing something dangerous in the water, and being hurt by it. Going across the bridge, I thought about Marley, and not being afraid even though he can't see. And then I see a shark?! I thought the whole thing was rather synchronistic, and I am grateful for the experience.
Tomorrow is another day, and hopefully another adventure!