A Flipper Experience
Everyone has at least one cool party trick to impress friends and strangers. Party tricks are rarely classy and almost always show a juvenile side. My party trick is making dolphin noises. I learned to do this from my big brother as we watched re-runs of Flipper.
I used to fantasize about swimming in the water with Flipper. I loved going to Sea World and watching the dolphin shows and seeing the trainers being pushed and pulled through the water by dolphins. I was excited about this new experience during my Year of 50.
My daughter was done with classes so we headed to the Islamorada in the Keys to the Theater of the Sea. My dolphin day was a cloudy drippy day, but I didn’t care and neither did the dolphins. We were going to get wet anyway, so a few drops from the sky weren’t going to rain on my parade. I was in a group with a couple from Germany. We had two dolphins for our swimming experience. Alexandra had previously enjoyed a dolphin experience, so she stayed landside and was my official photographer.
We went through a training class on proper dolphin etiquette and how the humans should behave in the water. After the twenty minute session, we were ready to go!
I was so excited to see the two dolphins, Crystal and Sherry, swim up to greet me as I entered the water. My first experience was getting a kiss from Crystal! She was very affectionate and later gave me a hug. I was then able to cradle her in my arms. As I rubbed her tummy, which felt like a soft smooth inner tube, I noticed her cute belly button. Since dolphins are mammals, they have belly buttons just like us! Later we danced as we twirled in the water together.
It was then time for the dorsal fin pull. I swam out to the end of the lagoon, outstretched my arms with my thumbs facing down and waited. Both dolphins came right up under my hands making it easy for me to clasp their dorsal fins as they whisked me to the other end of the lagoon. I was amazed at how fast we went and how easy it was. I was then asked to lay on my stomach with my hands stretched out in front while holding on to a kickboard. Sherry came from behind and used her nose to push me through the water as I circled the lagoon. Wow! What an incredible encounter!
We ended our time together with a nice swim, side by side through the lagoon. These creatures are truly beautiful, amazingly smart and seriously strong! I love how God is so creative in designing all the creatures of the sea!
Alexandra and I then went and explored the Theater of the Sea park and enjoyed all their animal shows. We saw an alligator getting his teeth brushed, feeding time for the nurse sharks (boy do they suck!), sea lions bounce balls, parrots solve puzzles, and dolphins do flips and other amazing skills. Swimming with the dolphins was truly marvelous experience! #8✔
