Thanksgiving Day Parade

This is where I’ll watch the parade on Thanksgiving Day.   Not the Macy’s Parade in NYC, but along my main street – Highway One in Big Sur.   

I’ll stand on these cliffs near my home and see (or imagine) a magnificent parade of marine plants and animals. 

H – Holdfast, Hydromedusa

A – Anemone, Avocet

P – Plover, Pisaster

P – Puffin, Pelican, Phytoplankton

Y – Yarrow, Yellowtail, Yellowlegs (Greater and Lesser)

T – Tern, Turbot, Tuna

H – Halibut, Hydrocoral

A – Anchovy, Abyss, Algae

N – Nudibranch, Notochords, Nematocysts

K – Kelp, Killdeer, Krill

S – Salmon, Sunfish, Sea Star, Sculpin, Senorita, Shrimp, Salp

G – Great White Shark, Gastropod 

I – Invertebrates, Isopod

V – Vertebrates, Valella Valella, Vulture

I – Ichthyologist, Intertidal

N – Naturalist, Neurotoxins

G – Garibaldi, Gull, Gill

I join with our pelagic cousins to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving! 

So much to be thankful for.  (Check out <thankyouocean.org>)

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I post these Wednesday ocean devotionals here and at www.bluetheologytideings.blogspot.com.  This has been my Thanksgiving
post for many years.Thanks Steve Lonhardt from <sanctuarysimon.org> for the great photo.  An amazing free library of ocean photos, thanks to NOAA.

 Back on the Water

The crowd went “OOOOOH!” last week when this school of 30,000 sardines rose as if resurrected from the depths during the 11AM Open Sea feeding at the Monterey Bay Aquarium.  

Actually the sardines were not back from the dead, just cautious.   They had waited below for the big mouths, sharks and tuna and mahi mahi, to get first dibs, then when staff cast their fav little krill on the surface (cast your krill on the water) the sardines snarfed them up.

I’m back writing my Wednesday Blue Theology devotionals, affectionally called Blue Theology “Tide-ings.”

I took a breather after I retired and while the Aquarium was closed for almost two years.  But I’m back on my weekly Thursday volunteer guide shift and the ocean is (still) teeming with life and surprises.

I stayed somewhat sane and connected to our blue planet during the early days of the pandemic by walking the beach and bluffs and praying for healing and comfort and hope for all of creation.  

But the doors were shut at what feels like a temple to ocean life, the Aquarium, where I have served as a simple verger every Thursday for 23 years.

Anything different there?  40% of staff were let go, including some early retirements and different jobs for some of my dear friends, very sad.  Some new young enthusiastic folks were hired, good to meet and learn from.  All staff and guests must be vaccinated, must wear masks – we are a scientific organization, we believe in facts and professionals.  So yes, changes.  As I age, it’s good to meet new folks, be safe, keep learning.

Otherwise the animals looked great, some a little bigger, like this hammerhead shark.  Felt like seeing grandchildren after two years – how you’ve grown!

Outside, the one world ocean, largest habitable expanse on earth, simply went on with life as usual, maybe a little quieter with fewer tankers and speed boats, a little cleaner with less oil spills and plastic, but as deep and full of beauty and hope as ever.  Dive in!

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I have retired from the Blue Theology Mission Station at the Christian Church of Pacific Grove, CA but the ministry continues under the fine leadership of Rev. Dan Paul.  Check out www.bluetheology.com. I also post these weekly devotionals at www.bluetheologytideings.blogspot.com.  Be in touch!