Dateline: Oahu, Hawaii
April 7, 2018
Do whales cry at night, or sing, or whatever?
I am a couple of miles from pods of passing whales, as they do in large numbers in this part of the world. A beaten rock shore sits right at the edge of my principal abode where I am holed up, looking to see how the world around manages to go on so well without me around to know about it or care for it.
Last night, actually this morning at 4:00 a.m. a baby whale began to cry from not far off in the sea. Very close in. The mewling cry was not human and had a low volume to it that was convincing as well as disconcerting. The bigger whales chimed back in as if to offer the baby whale some succor. What was happening in the dark not hundreds of yards from where I was up and watching? And seeing nothing but the white spume of breaking surf upon the rocks. The sounds went on until about five a.m., and then suddenly there were no more.
Astronomical dawn came at 5:07, then nautical dawn at 5:24, followed by early and then full dawn. Light. There was light. No whales. No nothing, except for the incessant continuing battering by big waves against even bigger rocks. There have been no more whale events through the day, and I’ve been on the lookout.
Was there really a baby whale in trouble against the small bit of my shoreline, and were the bigger parents and others in the pod working to help that baby? I don’t know. It’s now like I made the whole thing up. One thing though. You do not hear a baby whale mewling into the night from nearby water without it affecting you. It sure as hell affected me. Another of life’s grand mysteries. There’s a company located about twenty miles down the shore that will let you get into a giant seawater tank and swim around with their dolphins. I did this once ten years ago and loved it.
Maybe the whale thing drove me to look them up again. Two hundred and twenty-five bucks ($250.00) for an hour. What do you think? Was the whale thing an omen? Should I reach out to those mammals of the sea? Why did they pick my little stretch of shoreline to do their thing along?
As age closes in on me from every side I’ve made a last desperate attempt to grasp on to just a little more. The weather was obnoxious in January but I still found a nice little fishing boat for sale. The bank thought I was crazy at my age but somehow found it in their hearts to help me borrow enough to buy this little boat….. thru the years, many years… I’ve rejuvenated myself by revisiting old interests.
I know other people that also do this. I firmly believe it’s a good way to add years to a persons life.
Follow your heart, Mr. Strauss, it’s time to enjoy what’s left of your life as do I.
Thanks for sharing your wonderful stories and books here on the internet.
Well, Richard, I guess I am currently doing a bit of that. Enjoying what I can of life
while still on this planet. I do a lot of writing which is part of my enjoying, although I notice most people
think I should stop that and well…vegetate, I guess. Not in me.
Semper fi,
Jim
Great reflections. Enjoyed reading them.
Thanks H Kemp. Just moving right along out here and letting go a bit.
Appreciate the compliment…
Semper fi,
Jim
Sounds like you have found a little heaven on earth, enjoy this time as the mental anguish will probably return. Listen to the whales and hell yes swim with the dolphins,probably better company than some of your fellow man. Semper Fi
Yes, the dolphins are great Pete and the other animal life I’ve encountered too….
Semper fi,
Jim
Many times have listened to the Whales singing talking, usually at night in the off shore canyons Off Long Island, 👍❤️
I don’t think most people have ever heard what you and I have heard.
It must be really uncommon, or at least not something most people write about or I would see more on the Internet.
Semper fi,
Jim
Brings back memories of listening to the whales sailing off Dana Point so long ago.
Solitary sailing and a pod of whales. Peaceful evenings.
Enjoy your rest my friend.
Thanks Chuck,
Yes we had many whales off the South Coast