Why Worry?

There are only two things to worry about: either you are well or you are sick. If you are well, then there is nothing to worry about. But if you are sick, there are two things for you to worry about: either you will get well or you will die. If you get well, then there is nothing to worry about. If you die, then there are two things to worry about: either you go up or down. If you go up, then there is nothing to worry about. But if you go down, you will be so busy shaking hand with old friends, you won't have time to worry."

After seeking out a motel room, we were all too tired to go out again, so we took advantage of the advertising of a Broadway Pizza Company, and called out for pizza and spaghetti. The pizza was piled high with mushrooms, olives, tomatos, onions, green peppers and anchovies. We ate until almost painfully stuffed. Now sleep calls us.

Then we saw trained birds: colorful parrots, cockatiels, owls, hawks and eagles. I never knew birds could be trained, and so this show brought tears to my eyes. Laura got misty-eyed as well. One bullet-fast flying hawk made a descent from a blimp 350 feet above the arena, and stopped just before landing on the trainers outstretched arm. At show's end, three eagles made this breathtaking descent in unison.

Next we saw the loveable sea otters and sea lions do their tricks. A walrus performed tricks at this show's finale!

The dolphins would spin around and around and leaped high into the air. They had them interact with volunteer audience members. A little girl twirled her finger, and the dolphin twirled around. One man was invited to hug a dolphin. He was to make a round circle of his arms, and the dolphin would come up through them. He must have been timid, as he had his arms outstretched at his sides. The dolphin read this gesture differently and took off with the man's hat! Everyone laughed and he was offered a new hat in consolation.

The penguin display was awesome. We were in a special area with one way glass. A conveyor belt moved us silently through, so they would be unstressed and exactly like in their native environment.

But the undeniable star of Sea World is Shamu, the "killer" whale. For Shamu, I wanted to sit close up, as we watched the dolphins from the top row in the stadium. That viewpoint has its advantage for seeing the wide picture. But I wanted the close-up experience. So we got there an half hour early to claim our seats and got a bench in the third row. Already thousands of people were filling the stadium, portent of Shamu's popularity. At all the shows, while you are waiting, there is entertainment to keep you from being bored. An audience quiz featured members of the audience being caught on a vast TV screen monitor. That monitor later proved useful in showing tricks that weren't so visible from your sitting area.

Shamu and the other whale did amazing tricks. In what had to be amazing rapport with the trainers, a man rode him all around the stage lake. Most awesome was when Shamu shot straight up from the water with the man standing on his 'nose'. My camera's battery was low, and so I couldn't capture many pictures, but the mental pictures will never fade.

Our close seat was in the "soak zone". When Shamu did his leaping in front of us, we had the baptism of being totally drenched in salt water. We carried the mark of the blessed when we left. In the restaurant where we ate dinner, we explained to the clerk why we were wet, and he smiled a knowing smile.

But the burns are a small price to pay for the fun we've had! I'm grateful Laura suggested it. It was so refreshing and relaxing to get away.

The secret of the sonoran tea ceremony is to:
(1) Make the tea.
(2) Drink it when the surrounding temperature is 100 degrees or above. (For those not enured to desert heat, 85 degrees and above will do.)
(3) Attempt to achieve the satori of perspiration while sitting around and contemplating doing nothing much (because it's too hot, or whatever).
(4) When the perfect equilibrium is achieved, liquid inflow from the teacup equals total outflow through the pores, bringing a sense of inner harmony and oneness with the flow of everything.
(5) At this point the celebrant utters the mantra "Dang... sure is hot outside". The five words of this mantra symbolize the five elements of the oriental cosmology, with earth at the center, water in the teacup, the tea standing for wood, the heat for fire, and metal for the spoon to stir it all up with. What, then, is the nature of the cup? Maybe the cup is the universe. This is deep...
(6) The Sonoran Tea Ceremony has ended.
(7) Begin again at step (1) above.

The festivities continued into the night. The three of us went to bed early, telling them that the last one out should lock the door. When we got up this morning, a pleasant sight greeted our eyes. Our friends had put away the food and cleaned up all the mess!

This setting was all the better to appreciate an interview I heard on the radio today. KEZ radio interviewed the author of Beyond Courage. Robert Arros, his wife and sixteen year old son got stranded at sea for twenty-six days before being rescued! Their ship sank, and all they had was a small boat. Seventeen cans of vegetables were their only provisions; that, and no more than a tablespoon of salt water a day, for any more brine would only cause them worse harm.

Arros told of how they supported each other through this ordeal, carefully sharing the provisions. To pass the time, each would sing all the songs he knew. Robert would sing old Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole songs. His wife, who is younger, sang Beatles songs. And their son sang his favorites. His perseverance inspired his parents as well. In an age when teens often to fail to appreciate the value of life, the young man knew the importance of not giving up. For to say their faith was tested is an understatement.

Arros was surprised at what you're willing to eat, when going through such a trial. They caught a bird, killed it and divided it three ways. The raw, warm flesh tasted usually good!

On the twenty-third day, they reached the shore, (somewhere near Australia??) but it wasn't until three days later that some residents of the land found them. One had felt led to search for native plants, and so came to the sandy shore with some of his companions. When they had found the three, he knew Divine Spirit had led him and his friends to the right spot. They got the family to a hospital immediately. The rescue was in the nick of time, for the doctor said Arros had had only forty-eight more hours to live.

It was a fascinating tale. I would like to read the book. I wonder if I were to find myself in a similar situation, would I have the inner resources to sustain me. I hope I never have to find out!