My birthday wish this year was to fly away. Not for the sake of avoidance, not in a plane, not because there was anything wrong. Rather, I wanted to get away simply to have some clear space in which to relax and reflect and be alone with the man I love.
So that's what we did. We disappeared for twenty-four hours, first to a beautiful beach and afterward to a warm and welcoming little hotel high on a hill overlooking the entire bay of Puerto Vallarta.
The hours on the beach were precious. Sand, waves breaking, nothing to do but watch or doze or feel the perfect temperature of the air and the breeze.
Yet we were given another treat. Earlier, when we had arrived at our favorite beach restaurant nearby, the waiter had pointed out to sea. Whales! he said. A mama and a baby! Sure enough, there they were: a mother humpback teaching her newborn how to be a whale.
I didn't bother with photos, as whale behavior is hard to predict. Instead, I just relaxed into it and watched.
They performed for us for three hours. A giant fluke would sweep out of the water. In a moment, a tiny one would do the same. A huge back would roll up and curl back under, followed by a little one. Over and over. First this fluke then the other, next the roll, then the tail. A powerful spout from a big blowhole, a tiny spout from a baby blowhole.
Follow the leader. Mother may I? Yes you may.
With a small group of boats following, the whales moved slowly deeper into the bay, stopping for many minutes at a time to practice. They swam past us, then made a lazy u-turn back toward the Marieta islands and open water, this time even closer to shore. I'd close my eyes, finally, doze for a bit, but every time I'd open them again, there they were. FLUKE, fluke. ROLL, roll. TAIL, tail. SPOUT, spout. MAMA, baby. And more than once, LEAP CLEAN OUT OF THE WATER, leap most of the way out of the water. Baby was learning.
My favorite moment was when mama cleared the water in an enormous leap, the splash exploding skyward as she re-entered the sea. We could see her silhouette clearly, the plume of spray sparkling in the sun. Then there came baby, all the way up and out of the water! with its own smaller splash, after which they disappeared for a bit.
Craig said, "You know what they're doing now, don't you?"
"What?" I asked.
"They're having a talk underwater. The baby is saying, 'Ooh, that hurt a wittle bit'." I laughed, delighted.
"Then his mama says, 'At first, you don't have to jump so high that you hurt yourself. Take it easy. Poco a poco.'" Little by little.
Poco a poco is our mantra here in Mexico, but I think it's true for everyone. Poco a poco, one week at a time, San Pancho Vida is five years old this month. I, who have never been able to stick with a daily journal no matter how many times I've started one, have (poco a poco) written and published the journal of my life for the past five years.
Little by little is how life happens.
Poco a poco, we live. Poco a poco, we age. Poco a poco, we learn and reflect and change and, with attention, integrate life's lessons into what we trust is a more complete and evolved self. A happier self who's found the possibility, the reality, of inner joy and a harmonious connection with the world around us.
Poco a poco, we learn how to leap high enough to learn but not so high that it hurts every time, until the day comes when we can clear the water in a single thrust and experience what it feels like to fly.
Hello Love !I am so happy that you are so happy !!!This blog is beautiful just as you are, inside and out. Thanks for keeping me connected to that slice of heaven and all you angels residing there.
Posted by: Becky Person | February 19, 2015 at 08:50 PM
"Poco a poco, we live. Poco a poco, we age. Poco a poco, we learn and reflect and change and, with attention, integrate life's lessons into what we trust is a more complete and evolved self. A happier self who's found the possibility, the reality, of inner joy and a harmonious connection with the world around us."
That is just beautiful!!!
PS Happy Anniversary San Pancho Vida! Keep writing Candice, we enjoy every adventure you take us on!!
Peace,
Dos Locos
Posted by: Dos Locos | February 09, 2015 at 06:21 AM
beautiful as always Candice....happy birthday...it sounded like a special one indeed! oxox
Posted by: Char | February 07, 2015 at 08:37 AM