the one thing my father wanted though, was not disneyworld. not even close.
he wanted to see the manatees.
we must be related or something.
i was more than happy to oblige.
the experience was incredible. manatees are an incredible animal. big, swimming labradors. they're adorable. they don't like much loud noises (they'll swim away) so the quieter you are they longer they'll stay. they're endangered so you have to wait until they come to you (which they do, because they're basically giant swimming dogs.)
can i just tell you its the neatest experience to rub a manatee's belly when he obviously asks you to? they even have sweet spots. this guy's was right above his flipper in the shoulder area. he would arc his back like that was the best feeling in the world. when we finally had to go, he followed me like a puppy just wanting to be scratched again. best part is we have it on DVD.
we also saw a baby manatee. we didn't get to touch, but the baby was the cutest thing in the world. it was also communicating with its mother--did you know manatees squeak like mice? it's true. they do.
anyway, to make a long story short, manatees are now my favorite animal. for a long time i've struggled with that question: i've always needed an explanation for why an animal is my favorite (and thereby could never answer said question with honesty). over the years i might have said elephant, cuttlefish, dolphin, orca. but lets be honest, i was mainstreaming. (elephants are legit though.) i don't like to go with the crowd and like the big popular things, thats just too easy. plus i wanted a personal reason. manatees take the cake. they're not popular, they're endangered, and i have a special connection and memory associated with them. they are beautiful.
1 comment:
I love Manatees too! But my mom made fun of me for it and she called them ugly sea cows. But they really are the coolest and I wish I could say I got to pet one.
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