I started 2017 off with a resolve to give away some time – I now volunteer at the Vancouver Aquarium. It’s a perfect fit for me.
I’ve always loved the aquarium – we had a yearly family membership when the kids were little (young enough to think an afternoon spent with their mother was a real field trip – before the lure of the malls and drivers licenses). We had many grand adventures staring through glass – hours of awestruckness.
Our visits dwindled over the years but my love of things fishy and finned didn’t. The kids grew up and renewed their memberships themselves. My grand daughters are experiencing the same sense of awe as my kids did back in the day – and through those little girls we get to experience all the wonder again.
I have met a host of wonderful people with this volunteer adventure. I know before the first hello that they are my kind of folks – they are giving away time and they see the wonder behind the glass too.
I learn something new, exciting and interesting every week during my shift. Ask anyone at the aquarium what their favorite critter is and magic happens – suddenly it’s like a pixie dust of enthusiasm is being sprinkled over anyone within ear shot. Being a blatant stealer of stories I grab this enthusiasm, add some of my own, and set to the task of spreading it further.
I never knew you could develop an actual relationship with another species behind the glass – never getting to touch one another, never a spoken word, and yet an undeniable connection. I love watching a fish ‘notice’ me – I can tell the moment it ‘sees’ me – we exchange a few thoughts and it swims away knowing I love it. (Now, I have to point something out – not all the critters behind the glass share the same interest in humans — you can stare at a frog all day and it will never acknowledge you).
My grand daughters love the fact I hang out at the aquarium — they are positively chuffed to tell people “Gramma works there.” They now walk through the entrance with a sense of ownership. They draw pictures and include Gramma’s friends (eels, snakes, turtles – apparently all belong to me!) – they are on this magical adventure with me. They are in awe with me.
This past week two of my little girls and I took an afternoon field trip to the aquarium. Along with checking up on our usual friends I stopped to show them a new one — A Decorated War Bonnet. This illusive fish is quite a trickster – it blends in with its surroundings perfectly and hides in crevices between rocks and inside empty shells. I was absolutely mesmerized the first time i noticed him (I’m not sure its a ‘him’ but he seems ok with the pronoun). He and I have made a game of ‘find the War Bonnet’ every time I stop by his exhibit.
The girls and I knelt down to peer between the anemones and rocks – I almost looked right past him for he was on full display (like he was expecting the girls). The girls caught my excitement immediately and announced they had found his friend. (The girls are 5 years old – they have very active imaginations – which is code for, I didn’t believe them). BUT, on closer inspection there was another War Bonnet! This was almost too much – I snapped about a hundred pictures and the girls bestowed names upon them.
So (having made this short story long) I thought you might like to meet Lala and Brutus – our new best friends behind the glass at the Vancouver Aquarium.
Lala is on full display – Brutus is hiding above