I Love Nature
When I was serving in the Navy, I had the privilege of going to sea on a destroyer escort. We sailed around the coast of Australia, through South East Asia and saw the world in a way few people get to do.
One day we were sailing up the Western Australian coast and dropped anchor for a while. I was enjoying a break on the aft deck and was virtually alone when suddenly appearing out of the depths, a whale appeared. The whale surfaced very slowly and cautiously right next to the ship. I literally could have reached out and touched it. The whale glided effortlessly and very slowly along the port side, and then practically stopped. Its head was out of the water and his left eye looked straight into mine.
If I was a cleverer person I could put into words how that felt. It was an extraordinary experience. We looked at each other for about 30 seconds before he slipped back beneath the calm, dark surface and disappeared. As he left, other sailors ran over to try to catch a glimpse. I don't know why but I never told them about the eye contact. It seemed somehow too special, too amazing to be told.
I tell you now because there has been so much sadness in my life lately and this is one of those memories that reminds me there are so many amazing experiences to be had in this world so life is not as bad as it sometimes feels. Life is full of rare and precious moments like this. Seeing an eagle fly overhead, an owl sitting on a branch, a monarch butterfly flitting by on a warm sunny day. Savour them all. Treasure those little memories.
One day we were sailing up the Western Australian coast and dropped anchor for a while. I was enjoying a break on the aft deck and was virtually alone when suddenly appearing out of the depths, a whale appeared. The whale surfaced very slowly and cautiously right next to the ship. I literally could have reached out and touched it. The whale glided effortlessly and very slowly along the port side, and then practically stopped. Its head was out of the water and his left eye looked straight into mine.
If I was a cleverer person I could put into words how that felt. It was an extraordinary experience. We looked at each other for about 30 seconds before he slipped back beneath the calm, dark surface and disappeared. As he left, other sailors ran over to try to catch a glimpse. I don't know why but I never told them about the eye contact. It seemed somehow too special, too amazing to be told.
I tell you now because there has been so much sadness in my life lately and this is one of those memories that reminds me there are so many amazing experiences to be had in this world so life is not as bad as it sometimes feels. Life is full of rare and precious moments like this. Seeing an eagle fly overhead, an owl sitting on a branch, a monarch butterfly flitting by on a warm sunny day. Savour them all. Treasure those little memories.
By:
deleted
Age:
26-30
