美文欣赏200 美文欣赏 与海牛的一次邂逅

美文欣赏 与海牛的一次邂逅  

我想我大概永远也搞不清在那个早晨到底发生了什么。我情愿相信是那些海牛和我一起参加了一个新生命的庆祝仪式，而我则是它们邀请的客人。随着时间的流逝，这也成了我珍藏的记忆。
在那次意外的邂逅中，我感受到在这个巨大的星球上，生命之间的一种极致的和谐。这份记忆慢慢变成了忧伤时唱给自己的一首歌，快乐时跳起的一段舞蹈。
Walking alone on a remote beach in southwest Florida
I was startled to hear splashes and a deep sigh ing from the water just offshore.
As I squinted in the direction of the sounds
the rounded gray back of a sea creature rose amid a red froth
rolled turbulently at the surface
then sank back into the Gulf. Moments later a broad nose emerged and exhaled in a great snuffling breath. It was a manatee
and by the looks of the reddish-colored water and the way it was thrashing
it was in trouble.
I had often watched manatees in these warm coastal waters
but I'd never seen one act like this before. Usually just their big nostrils appeared for a gulp of air as they foraged on sea grasses or swam slowly to greener underwater pastures. But I also knew how mon it was for these lumbering giants to be gashed by boat propellers or entangled in crab traps.

I wanted to help
but what could I do? There was no one else on the beach
and the nearest phone to call the Marine Patrol was miles away.
Tossing my beach bag onto the sand
I began wading toward the animal
who continued to writhe as if in distress. I was still only waist deep when I came close enough to make out the bristly whiskers on the manatee's muzzle as it thrust up out of the sea. Then
to my surprise
a second muzzle
much smaller
poked up beside it.
I pushed on through the shoal water
but now the manatees were also moving toward me. Before I knew what was happening
I was in chest-deep water encircled by not one or o
but at least three blimplike bodies. I felt elated and slightly dizzy like the kid who is 'it' in a schoolyard game.
A bulbous snout emerged next to me. In the translucent water
I could clearly see the rest of the huge mammal
and there
nestled close behind her
a smaller version of her massive body.
Then
with incredible gentleness for such an enormous creature
the larger manatee nudged the little one with her paddle-shaped flipper and pushed it to the surface beside me. I wanted to reach out and touch the pudgy sea baby
but I hesitated
not knowing the rules of this inter-species encounter.
As the o slipped back underwater
o other manatees moved in from behind and slid by
one on either side
rubbing gently against my body as they swam past. They circled and repeated the action
this time followed by the mother and her calf. Emboldened by their overtures
I let my hand graze the side of the small manatee
now clinging to the mother's back
as they made their pass. Its skin felt rubbery and firm like an old fashioned hot water bottle.
The group pleted several more circuits. Since they obviously enjoyed touching me
I began stroking each of them as they sidled by. When one of them rolled over for a scratch
I knew I had made the right move.
Eventually my new friends made their way off towards deeper water. I stood anchored to the spot
not wishing to break the spell
until finally the rising tide forced me back to shore.
I suppose I will never know exactly what took place that morning. I like to think that the manatees included me in their celebration of a birth; that I was weled to meet the newest member of their tribe. But over time I have e to cherish the experience without questions.
During that unexpected rendezvous
I felt more in tune with the rhythms of life on this vast pla than I ever have. The memory has bee a song I sing to myself when I have the blues
a dance I do to celebrate joy.
And each year
during the last week of May
I pack a lunch and head for that isolated stretch of beach for a quiet little birthday picnic on the shore. After all
you never know who might show up for the party.