A True Hero

"I want to fight until the day I am no longer able. Fight for what? For the world, for life, for happiness, for fresh air, for songs, for the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea."
-Jacques Cousteau

Ever since I can remember I loved Jacques Cousteau. I was always so fascinated with his ocean explorations as a kid. His study of sharks is what really got me to love him, though. (You may remember the mention of my shark obsession in my WIPster interview.) He really worked so hard to destroy the fearsome man-eating image most people envisioned when they thought of sharks. He taught people to see them for how amazing they truly are, and respect them. He reminded that in a world without sharks, humans would not survive. He did all of this in his amazing lifetime and that is just barely the tip of the iceberg of all his work.



"We must not only defend sharks because they are useful and beautiful, but we must protect the sea that feeds them. And also restore the balance of the great ocean's ecosystem, of which sharks form an important link and on which we ultimately depend."
Requins, Innocents sauvages, J-Y Cousteau et Yves Paccalet, Ed. Robert Laffont 1997.



Even though he has left this earth he will forever have my admiration. So you can imagine my excitement when I found the Cousteau Society headquarters *almost* in my neighborhood. I kid you not, it's literally a 7 1/2 minute drive. I am so happy I discovered this before we moved! The girls and I drove there on Tuesday. They had a tiny museum filled with some of the most amazing things. The girls were not as excited as I was, although K really liked the mechanical shark. If only we lived here while they were older...


Life size mechanical great white shark

I could have spent hours in that tiny museum but they let me have about 45 minutes. I think we reached a good compromise! (That is one of the keys to parenting, wouldn't you say?) I learned so much about his life and his amazing family. I look forward to the day when I can share my love and gratitude for Jacques Cousteau with my girls, and have them fully understand. Until then I can continue telling them stories of his expeditions and teaching them to respect and care for our oceans and planet. I think that's what he would want us all to do.


From the Calypso


Underwater camera from the late 1970s

A True Hero

Birthday Week: Part Two

It almost looks like he is pouting in this pic but he is actually looking at the sharks swimming below him

Flock and Fiber Festival Surprise


As I mentioned last week, I wanted to share the last bit from K's birthday week/Purple Grandma's visit. Much to Little L's delight we went to the local aquarium. He is planning to be the next Jacques Cousteau, you know. His special hammerhead shark Lavender came along, too. The aquarium was awesome. We could make a homeschool field trip out of it one of these days. There was so much to learn. I think everyone had fun. However, when we got to the shark tank I was a bit surprised by Little L's reaction or should I say lack thereof. I could tell he was happy to see sharks in real life but I think I expected a little something more, I mean we all know of his shark obsession, right?! It wasn't until about halfway through our time at the aquarium that it dawned on me that he was just drained and overwhelmed, you can see it in his sweet face in the pictures. My children, like me, are homebodies (and most on the introvert side as well) so our week of going out every day just exhausted us and left us all (myself included) not at our best. We were very grateful for all our experiences but just wishing we could have somehow spread them out a bit more. Of course, that wasn't really possible. Someone should make a book on vacationing for introverts. I know I'd buy it. 😂

K also had a very special surprise at the annual Flock and Fiber Festival. Her very best friends from Portland (the very same ones we saw for my birthday in August) came to see her and celebrate her birthday. Kevin and I were both in on the surprise this time but I couldn't believe all they did. They even brought a cake! She was beside herself with joy - she loves them all so (as do the rest of us). I am guessing this was one of her favorite birthdays yet (only behind the two joint birthday parties with the same friends at the pumpkin patch in Portland). It was her very own birthday party in with the sheep and woolly goodness.

Speaking of woolly, we also met up with my friend Taryn of Wooly Moss Roots and her family there. They had a booth set up, which was amazing by the way, and we had been planning to get together and let our boys play as soon as we knew we'd be back in Oregon for the event. Oh my, those boys of ours. They go months, even years without seeing one another (they write - actually draw pictures, in between) yet they act like they were just together the day before. Such a sweet friendship they have. I think the same goes for Taryn and I. What blessings friends are!!

Unfortunately, we got the event later in the day than we intended so we didn't get as much time with our friends as we had wanted but we are still grateful for the time we did have. I am sure you can imagine that it was hard for all of us to leave, but we all know we will see each other again soon.

And just because this picture is too funny not to share:

Birthday Week: Part Two