Loggerhead Sea Turtles

Thinking about how vast our universe is, all the while, gazing out into the night sky, I have often thought that I am but a speck of dust in the big scheme of things (see Spacing Out). Then, I witnessed the Loggerhead Sea Turtle nesting on the beach.

Her instincts were awe-inspiring

While Mr. Something and I visited friends on the eastern coast of Florida,we learned that the threatened Loggerhead Sea Turtle nested in the area, annually.

My ignorance was palpable.

I had no idea how big they were...up to 375 lbs (170 Kg), and that after reaching maturity of 17 years, they return to the same beach where they were hatched in order to nest and lay their eggs, and that the baby sea turtles have a 1% chance of surviving to sexual maturity.

Who knew?

So under the cloak of darkness, we venture out into the night - armed with a flashlight and camera, only to be amazed by the precision of Sea Turtle nesting habits...

Turtle tracks
Photo credit: www.seaworld.com

Turtle tracks are unmistakable.
The back flippers create deep grooves into the sand from the sea. 

Quietly, we follow the tracks to where mama builds her nest.

With her rear flippers, she scoops sand out repetitively until her nest is a uniform, bucket-shaped vessel approximately 1.5-2 ft deep. 

Mama sea turtle then begins laying  her eggs.

Sea Turtle Laying Eggs
Photo Credit- Laurie Penland / Sea Turtle Conservancy

Laying about 100 eggs (called a "clutch")
- we lost count at 75 -
she rhythmically covers her nest with sand.

The whole process takes about 45 minutes. 

It's a lot of work.

If you go out to watch the hatchlings leave their nests...do not use a flashlight. 

The baby turtles will become confused as they are searching for the light of the moon to guide them back into the ocean. 
Lord only knows, with a 1% survival rate, they can use all the help they can get.

And then, she returns to the sea until next year...

...and my thoughts of being but a speck of dust in our universe emerges once more...

and I like the feeling.

Spacing Out...

On August 5th, after learning that the rover "Curiosity" had successfully landed on Mars, I was reminded of how my personal appreciation for our universe began and the inescapable realization that our planet Earth is but a speck of dust in the "big picture".

Circa 1996, during our nightly telephone conversation, my new boyfriend (the future 'Mr. Something') asked me to step outside and look into the sky. Done. A beautiful night sky, clear and full of stars. He directed me to a bright star near the moon. "That's Mars" he said, matter of fact-ly. 

It was a moment.

"I can see Mars?" "With my own eyes?"

And that was just the beginning.

Home

Our neighborhood
(Depending on its orbit, this year, Mars was 56 million miles away from us - and we landed a vehicle on it.)

Our Galaxy. "The Milky Way"
 Earth, the Sun and our complete Solar System are gathered together in the same 'arm' (or disk).
 Our sun is 93 million miles away from us.

Just some of the galaxies that science is aware of out there.

During the past 15 years, Mr. Something and I have seen Jupiter and at least 6 of its moons, Saturn  and its rings, and a host of Messier objects with our backyard telescope. It was on a memorable trip to Fort Davis, Texas that my eyes were literally opened to the profound vastness of our Universe.

The Whirlpool Galaxy as seen through a McDonald Observatory Telescope...

 It's around 26 million "light years" away...

 One light year = 6 trillion miles. 

Just sayin'.

Makes one feel somewhat insignificant in the big scheme of things.

Dear Oprah,

Dear Oprah,
It comes as no surprise to me that your show will be nothing but an archive in 2011 and you have kept us well informed of your plans but it is just killing me that you are leaving the show.

Needless to say, I guess I have been in denial these past few months since I heard of your decision and yes, I admit to experiencing a little anticipatory grief so I would like to take this opportunity to bid you "farewell".


Little did you know that our friendship began back in the mid-eighties when you encouraged women to "puh-lease put your bras back on!" (at last - the voice of reason) and had us to 'look within' and make peace with ourselves.

For over the past twenty years, we struggled with our bad hair days, our weight, our pasts, our good and bad relationships. You introduced me to my "Inner Child" and educated me on topics that spanned the widest of  spectrums - from racism to thread counts. You allowed me to share friendships with Gail and Nate. You encouraged me to start reading books again and step outside of my 'comfort zone' (I must say that I didn't quite 'get' Eckhart Tolle but maybe I'm not quite 'there' yet) -  I loved "The Pillars of The Earth", "The Help" and "Edgar Sawtelle". You taught me about creating my 'vision' for life and about allowing myself to listen to what the universe is telling me. Most importantly, you taught me to forgive myself by quoting your friend Maya Angelou ..."When you know better, you do better". That quote has become my mantra. Your presence in my life has been enriching and I am a better person because of you and for that I will always be grateful.

Thanks Oprah.


Your BFF, 
Joan