REPORT: June 10, 2010 - Thursday - 6:30pm

OBSERVED: lots of seaweed in the water and along shoreline & plastic, plastic, plastic, and more plastic

COLLECTED: nothing


Plastic everywhere! Bags, pieces, parts - on the shore, in the water, in the sand. And the shore line was caked with seaweed. Once again, Lady Ocean was doing some serious house-keeping and it showed! But in the water, between those bits of seaweed and grasses (and wrappers) was the clearest, warmest water! So lovely.

Unfortunately however, for T. OCEAN, the South Atlantic is teeming with sea lice right now, and he was sustaining multiple bites along his neck and shoulders as he swam. Within 15 minutes he was red and blotchy, so I pulled him out well before he was ready to call it quits. He already has bites scattered all over his torso and upper legs. We probably shouldn't let him get in the water for the next week or so until the peak season subsides. But, it is IMPOSSIBLE to bring him to the beach without allowing him in the water! The boy just cannot help himself. Even in the chilly winter weather back in January, he would still find a way to get himself soaked head to toe, shivering.

This bit of forced hiatus yet to be imposed my child (starting tomorrow) leads me to another question which is far from unanswerable right now: what will happen if we can't swim in the ocean for an unknowable length of time because the water is too toxic? I can't imagine taking him to the beach and NOT get in the water! He simply will not be able to comprehend why - day in and day out - the one thing he knows and loves so well will be off-limits to him (and me). What will we do if that happens? Will we stay here? Far too many questions, and too few answers.

For now, it's strangely comforting to remind myself that the sea lice will subside (just like the man-o-war did); and the time for moon-jellies and Loggerhead turtle nests and shark migrations will come - each it's own season.


Your,
Little Mama Sea Keeper