Postcards from Paradise: Under the Sea

I love the mysterious, flower-like

and undulating nature of sea anenomes.

I'm also a big fan of starfish

and colorful fishes

(though I draw the line at blue sharks).

(This heart-shaped one is especially dear.)

But because of a swimming trauma

when I was in kindergarten

that indelibly imprinted the panic

of near-drowning into my psyche,

I'll never be diving below

the water's surface to see them.

Once, however, with a bit of encouragement

from the man I loved, 
I overpowered my fear

and went snorkeling off St. John in the Virgin Islands.

I saw some fish and stuff, but never managed to relax

while my face was underwater.

Mostly, I was just relieved that I'd survived it

and very proud of myself for doing something

so very challenging for me.

Oh -- and did I mention that 

I checked "Snorkeling" off my bucket list

and vowed never to do it again?

(As you might have guessed,

getting dive-certified isn't on my list.)

In other words, I'm a shower girl, not a bath girl.

I'm a big fan of aquariums for viewing sea anenomes

and other fishy stuff.

I hope you enjoy my Postcards from Paradise.

No photographers were harmed in the making of these shots,

all taken at the Pt. Defiance Zoo and Aquarium.


p.s. My Father's Day post is here.