I wrote this blog about a year ago. The story is about a little fish and a funny looking whale. I would love to hear if you ever met a fish like this! Enjoy!
As I write this, I am sitting on a Beach in a Mexican town in Banderas Bay called, “La Cruz”. It’s a cute town made up of cobble stone streets, little tiendas, restaurants and most important, a vegan ice cream shop!
Shooting for the Stars
11” X 14” Acrylic on Canvas
The town has a beautiful marina that attracts many from the sailboat cruising community. The sailors and locals alike have huge smiles on their faces and they frequently stop to say hello, find out where you’re from, and where you are going while sharing a friendly story or two.
It’s the end of July and the weather is consistent every day. The morning is cool and clear with a hint of humidity, perfect for boat projects and exercise. The afternoon moves into a warm and lazy siesta time.
When waking from my siesta, I slowly and purposefully pry open my eyelids to rid the sugar plums in my head, while looking up to find gigantic fluffy cotton candy clouds reaching high into the heavens.
Just like clockwork, every afternoon the ground shakes as the first mighty roar of thunder explodes, then bright flashes in the sky. Gusts of swirling wind smack the halyards against the masts in the marina sounding like a melody of wind chimes. With that, all projects stop and there is nothing more to do but to watch mother nature’s show.
With this afternoon weather pattern, the early morning is the perfect time to swim. The sky is still clear and the ocean is calm. Swimming is how is how I get both my exercise and how I fill my creative well. I love the combination of the sensation of being in the water, while surrounded by life and exercising at the same time!
My goal when planning where to swim is based on where I can stop, hang out and view marine life as my reward for swimming hard. When I get to my reward, I spend time enjoying the fish, marveling in their colors, attitudes and personalities. After a while, I turn back and push up my heart rate up once again back to my starting point.
On one of these swims I choose a destination on an island about a mile out. It was worth the trip! The reef fish were abundant, it was like swimming in an aquarium. So many colors and shapes! There were butterfish, puffer fish, wrasse, angle fish, sergeant majors and a moray eel. As I relaxed and hung out in awe of the beautiful sea creatures, a little fish appeared one inch from my goggles. My reaction was to swoosh away the little guy. He fluttered away. Then before I knew it, he was back circling my legs.
I didn’t think too much about it and turned around for my swim back. I began freestyle swimming and my new little friend was once again in front of my goggles and swimming with me. I swooshed again and in a second or two, he appeared back in front of my goggles and didn’t leave. He was my pilot and led the way with jubilance and enthusiasm! Completely dedicated to his mission to take me back to the beach.
So, what do you do when your following a four-inch fish? You introduce yourself of course! So, our friendship began. I talked through my snorkel and he shook his fins. I named him Allen. I don’t know why, but he just seemed like an Allen. I thought to myself that I had to be the funniest looking whale around, but that didn’t bother him. He had a job to do and he was going to “getter done!”.
We kept swimming and as I followed him, I thought to myself, this is one fish that’s not afraid to live outside the fishbowl. He led me to my end point. I put my hands out cupping him for a fishy hug and said thank you and farewell to my new friend.
I am so grateful to be here, on this earth, at this very moment in time. I want to experience life, keep an open heart, and reach for the stars which are way beyond any fishbowl.
Thank you Allen, for the reminder! You rock little dude!
With love,
Robbie Ann