DOLPHINS

I guess my connection to dolphins was awakened by the TV show Flipper when I was a kid.  I saw a few dolphins in captive shows, and was amazed and saddened. I took a dolphin tour in Florida once, and was horrified that jet skiers chased the few we saw.  But there, I had my first real contact.  I was disappointed at not getting to witness joyful wild dolphins, but​ at that moment a​ thought enter my mind of a youngster exploding with joy away from a mom who was insisting on a nap.  As I chuckled, a single tiny dolphin flew up and out of the water!  

After moving to Kona, Hawai'i, I wished for dolphins to join me as I swam in a nearby bay known for having dolphins, but they were typically farther from shore, and I did not want to intrude into their space.  At that time, there was some noisy controversy about dolphin-human interactions and I figured they would engage with me if it was their desire.  One day, when the bay was chock-full with tourists splashing about in the shallows, several dolphins came in amongst is swimmers, and went in and out, between legs, seemingly enjoying the interaction as much as the exuberant humans!

The next week, I went to a job interview, not knowing it was a dolphin excursion company.  I was offered a ride-along experience, to address my interaction concerns. The boat captain/owner was passionate about dolphins and went to great lengths to educate guests about respectful behavior around the dolphins, and her crew went in the water with us guests. The experience was so beyond my expectations! Ecstacy comes to mind!

Of course, I took the job, which was managing the land operations, like responding to inquiries, making reservations, maintaining supplies, etc.  Every day, crew returned to the office and shared information about the trip and dolphins' behavior.  

A necessary part of the job was, sigh, having to go out on a trip as often as necessary to keep my enthusiasm high for communication to potential guest. Over time, I began to have some very interesting dreams and 'psychic' communications with dolphins...even from the shore office and my home 5 miles inland from the water.

The first time was on my way into the office before a large group excursion, multiple boats, lots of logistics!  I was anxious.  As I came down the slope to get my first view of the ocean, something in my head shouted "LAUGH".  I was game, so I started laughing, forced at first, then it came through with full hilarity. Then it suddenly stopped.  Weird, but sure changed my attitude.

Amid the excursion, I was in the water with guests, and I heard what sounded like a caricature of dolphins laughing, like one dolphin chirping a joke then several dolphins laughing at it.  I really thought a boat had put a speaker in the water playing fake dolphin laughs.  But there were NO dolphins in view. Just this sound...the laugh was contagious, and I started chuckling through my snorkel. Suddenly a whole bunch of dolphins swam right up to me and I swear they were laughing at me.  I knew at that moment that the dolphins had been playing with me! 

I got the impression that these dolphins had been listening to old I Love Lucy shows, and were sharing their impressions of those lines and laugh-tracks!  Made me wonder what else they knew about us land beings!

To be continued...