J Scott Shannon (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
otterfamily) wrote2013-07-11 01:19 am
otterfamily) wrote2013-07-11 01:19 am
Reunion
Saw otters last night at Trinidad for the first time in 23 months. What made the evening doubly special was that I was there to meet up with the fellow who first introduced me to Trinidad 31 years ago: Kent Reeves. He and his wife Heidi both looked terrific. As icing on the cake, also there was my first major professor at Humboldt State: Dr. Archie Mossman, and his wife, Dr. Sue Lee. It was quite a reunion!
Before the meetup, I got to see two otters: first, a young adult male, and then briefly an adult female made an appearance. I took some video of an aggressive encounter between the two. It was just like the old days: tussling, screaming, then the one who was attacked (the male) treading water and making a lot of splashing and fuss. Some things never change! I haven't watched the video yet; if it's any good I'll edit this post and embed it here later on.
Although otters aren't a part of my life anymore, I still have dreams fairly often in which I'm studying them. I do miss that, I must admit. I don't miss the heartache, though. All those losses from years ago are still significantly impacting me and my life. The tragic way things ended pretty much destroyed me. I don't think I'll ever be quite the same person as I was back then.
Before the meetup, I got to see two otters: first, a young adult male, and then briefly an adult female made an appearance. I took some video of an aggressive encounter between the two. It was just like the old days: tussling, screaming, then the one who was attacked (the male) treading water and making a lot of splashing and fuss. Some things never change! I haven't watched the video yet; if it's any good I'll edit this post and embed it here later on.
Although otters aren't a part of my life anymore, I still have dreams fairly often in which I'm studying them. I do miss that, I must admit. I don't miss the heartache, though. All those losses from years ago are still significantly impacting me and my life. The tragic way things ended pretty much destroyed me. I don't think I'll ever be quite the same person as I was back then.