Last weekend, I drove to the Georgia Aquarium. Courtesy of my former job with Sunset Zoo and still current membership with the Association of Zoos & Aquariums, I visited free-of-charge. Exciting in many ways-including that water and I have this thing. I'd have grown up to be a mermaid if that had been "doable". Darn. Really.
Anyhoo, the aquarium adventure was delicious and I've stumbled upon a few observations from the view under the sea. I'll be brief:
- Picture a wall of water. On one side is a collection of gaping bidpeds; mostly quiet – almost reverant. On the other side are swimmers, teeth, and fins. And sitting there, I wondered if any of the fish ever tried to bust out of their watery life so that they could experience life "on the other side." What a terrifying shock it would be to get such a wish. And then I thought of how so much of my living has been trying to bust to the other side.
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Shock & Awe are okay…but: So the aquarium was great. Beautiful. Sparkley. But several years ago, I visited the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga on a trip to the southlands. The Tennessee Aquarium features the water cycle as a jaw-dropping winding series of interdependent biospheres. It's amazing and really brings the life aquatic to …LIFE. Less flash and dash, but still my favorite aquarium ever. Real life beats out the sparkly fantasy any day.
- KU FANS are everywhere (& context is so important…so sorry dude). I crawled through the peek-at-a-penguin tunnel to get beak to beak with OPUS & his pals. As I waited in line, I noticed this guy who was joyously interacting with the African penguins around his "bubble". And he had a KU hat on. Despite his crappy taste in team allegiance, he had so much joy and his kids were delighted with the whole unfettered interaction. Heck-we were all delighting in it-the whole hunched up line of people who witnessed his joy and engagement – caught the woohoo-ness of his moment! And in WildCat fashion (& I was wearing a purple K-State shirt), I grinned, caught his eye and flashed the "L is for loser" sign on my forehead…only he couldn't see my K-State logo on the shirt I was wearing in Atlanta, Georgia…far away from that friendly rivalry. Yep. Too late. Being cute became being a jerk. Sigh. Fortunately, I ran into him later and he saw my shirt and "got it." Thank goodness. I can only be so much of a jerk.
- WONDER is a wonderful thing. The GA Aquarium includes a tunnel under their sea. A few whale sharks and manta rays (think "Old Man & the Sea") and scores of fish and other toothy sharks swim around the visitors' heads. All of the chatter heard in the main part of the aquarium ceases unexpectedly as folks enter the tunnel. Faces grow slack, eyes widen, and the mood is again-quiet. Wonder. Joy. Discovery. wow.
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Sometimes you have to go it alone.
Though I'd invited a few folks to join me, the expense and timing did not work out for anyone else. So I went alone. And it was marvelous. I stood and sat at will. I met folks and had time to listen to the chatter of kids. No one was embarrassed when I tried to take the pictures of all of the tiny smudgey hand prints on the windows. (I love those ice-cream laden hand prints!) Though it's been a long haul of singleness, sometimes going alone is a sweetness. Sometimes it is heartbreaking. I am hoping that this will not be forever, but if it is, I'll find joy therein (I hope.)
Wonder. Joy. Forgiveness (so sorry Mr. KU). Discovery.
Come before December 31 and we'll go so you can experience your own undersea adventure…and leave your smudgey prints on the windows. Really, it's okay. It means you are learning and engaged.
