Swimming with Dolphins

We decided it would be fun to take the kids on a trip. Josh has been working a million hours... So as a reward for the children we planned to surprise everyone and take them to Legoland and Sea World in California. Four kids on a plane, at two theme parks, the ocean, restaurants, public bathrooms, rental car, sun, wind, and did I mention four kids? Yea. Fun. That's what I'm thinking. I have planned my next few blogs around this trip, so please bear with me. Or is it bare with me? Hmmm.  Can't remember.

Ok, so Sea World is a bit on the Nazi side with their animals. I get it. When you have 9 million people trying to feed the dolphins their leftover lunch, it can get annoying.  We were winding down the day; Scarlett had the map and was very proudly carrying it everywhere. We wandered over to this GIGANTIC pool where there were about a dozen dolphins swimming around. It was SUPER crowded because you could actually touch the dolphins. Scarlett couldn't see very well, so she climbed out of the stroller; then she asked if I could pick her up. I did so. There was a short, but thick wall, so I leaned her back on me and rested her feet on the wall. It was a bit breezy.  No, she didn't go for a swim. The map did.

Crystal clear pool, 12 dolphins, 4127 people,  1 park person telling all about these "amazing creatures, but PLEASE don't put anything into the pool except your hands"; 1 screaming, tired, hungry, now map less 3-year-old, 1 paper map floating away in the pool. By now all 4127 people are looking at us and I'm trying to get the attention of park girl without interrupting her spiel.  Which is being heard by all 4127 people.  Or was.  Not easy. Even for someone as proficient in sign language as I am. So I finally get her attention, or it could have been Scarlett screaming and crying out to the now drowning map.  Park girl stayed calm, but immediately called for backup. While the reinforcements were arriving, I put the crazy, crying toddler down and went to see if I could reach the map without going swimming myself. Or drowning myself. Don't get me wrong, I've always wanted to swim with dolphins, but this wasn't the appropriate time or place. And I didn't have a bathing suit. Or a towel. All this time, I'm convinced we are going to get kicked out of Sea World. We are going to blacklisted from all theme parks for time immemorial, perhaps we won't be able to get on a plane. Ever again.

So, I'm leaning into the pool praying for a breeze, when something really cool happens. No, I didn't fall in. A dolphin swam up, picked up the map in his mouth and BROUGHT it back to me.  He handed (or whatever you call it when an animal with no hands gives you something) the map to me. Then I petted his nose and head, took it, and got the hell out of there. As far as I know, we aren't blacklisted. Yet. What can you do, but laugh until a little bit of pee comes out!