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Aug 08
2010
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Preparing for GalapagosPosted by Annie Crawley in Untagged |
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Three wake up calls to get me out of bed this morning! I wanted to make sure I did not miss my flight. More than a week of prepping to return to the Galapagos, where I feel a piece of my heart will always be. In 2001 when I visited last, I truly believe it was some of the best three months of my life. I left days before 9/11, who would have known that 9/11/2001 was going to change our lives so drastically forever. I still say prayers and give thanks for everything and hope we can continue to heal. I take a deep breath and let it all go. As I walked down the street yesterday, I was overcome with a sense of family as I watched everyone enjoying their Saturday afternoons together. And I could not help but think in 24 hours I would be arriving in one of my favorite places on Earth, Galapagos!
The ocean and wildlife here is truly wild, untamed and unafraid of people. I can still remember the awe I felt for the sea lions as they pup, nurse, fight and play a few feet away from us. We are not allowed to approach them, yet often, they will come to us. I am in complete wonder and amazement of what will happen. Four currents meet around this chain of islands and I can’t wait until I slip into the Ocean and become one.
I feel like I am in a daze right now. There is this sense of calm that has come over me. I worked right up until the very minute I shut my eyes last night, had to finish another round of editing of lesson plans that we are trying to release for this coming school year. We are incorporating character education and imagination values into everything along with Ocean Literacy and 21st Century Learning. Today is my Grandmother’s 92nd birthday and again I find myself giving thanks. She raised me with Faith, Courage and Enthusiasm and taught me to travel while I was young because when you get older you can’t climb the mountains! There are many people who have influenced me, I truly believe there are no accidents in this world. But somehow, how my Grandmother shared her experiences with me and inspired all of us Grandchildren, I need to share this with more! I do not have children of my own. I have nieces, nephews and cousins. I am known to thousands as Ocean Annie and somehow, I need to share the messages I learned with all of them. I want to teach them that life is an exploration. We need to appreciate our journey. And with these words, they are calling me to board the plane. I know I have not written in awhile, for I have been caught up in work. But on this trip, I claim back my journaling and will be sharing this with you. As you read this, you may think that it is all about me, but it is not. What do these words trigger in you? What do you have inside of you that you want to do? Where do you want to go? I say start working a plan so you can live your dreams. It is possible and necessary that you do something that makes you come alive. From my heart to yours, do something today to bring you closer to your dreams, even if it is just allowing yourself to dream.
Heading to Galapagos Sky, a boat with DivEncounters. I will be joining Peter Hughes and Michele Westmoreland. The journey and adventure begins!
