REPORT: June 16, 2010 - Wednesday - 7pm

OBSERVED: fair - clean

COLLECTED: sand, shells, seaweed


As I write this, T. OCEAN sits finishing his spaghetti dinner and watching the rest of "Ocean Drifters", a National Geographic movie from about 15 years ago. This and "Jewels of the Sea" are favorites. They were sponsored by Chevron.

The last part of "Ocean Drifters" summarizes the importance of the food chain from the most microscopic to the largest creatures along the Gulf Stream. How important even sea plankton are as a primary food source, yet absorbing all materials in the water - natural, chemical and otherwise. It doesn't take much for me to wonder what will happen - with what we can and what we cannot see - along the Gulf Stream, just out beyond our horizon.

Last night our president spoke in the Oval Office about the disaster in the Gulf. He says he has a plan. Perhaps a better plan than the oil company ever did. But I am deeply suspect about the realistic ability to return the oceans, marches and beaches to their original state. Sarcastically, I think....we'll pick up tar balls and drop off plastic. Sometimes, it just feels too great.

It's been a few days since we've been able to get to the beach, and I feel like I'm drying up. I'm physically tired and moving slowly, but we eventually make it out there just before 7:oo in the evening, hot and sweating. With the heat index, it's in the low 100's, and ocean is around 85 degrees, surprisingly warmer than a few days ago yet still refreshing after the long walk.

Trash was strewn around from day-trippers: plastic ziploc bags and wrappers and bottles. But the water was mostly clear except for bits of seaweed, and the tide was far out and only a light chop, perfect for T. OCEAN to test his metal again. He constantly walks out further and further, loving the feel of waves knocking against him. He's learned their timing and knows when to jump up and bob around, instinctively doing a little dog-paddle. These days even if he goes under, I know he can handle it and he won't panic. Still, I insist he stay close to me. He remembers and forgets, remembers, and forgets. A dance we do in the water.

I notice my body feels relieved and lighter on our walk home. The swim was good. The fresh air cleared my mind. We can now face the night at ease.

Your,
Little Mama Sea Keeper

REPORT: June 1, 2010 - Tuesday - 4pm

Observed: fair - clean, some plastic debris

Collected: seaweed, sand, 2 shells

The water is 80 degrees; thunderclouds overhead threaten but hold out--we swim and play for almost 2 hours; few people out now, the beach is much cleaner; only small bits of plastic along the sand; the water is clear, but the current and shore break are strong; plenty of white and pink shells shards line where the water meets the shore, when the waves wash over them, it makes a marvelous sound like a breeze on chimes