As this Saturday evening wraps up, and I was sitting here on the couch with my wife, I was reflecting on the day. We had an early start this morning. Even though Wally's fifth birthday was earlier this week, we celebrated it with a birthday party at the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher, with Wally's friends and classmates. A good time was had by all!
As a good omen, I hope, for this beginning of Wally's sixth year with us, we began the week with an all too brief visit from a friend, the Cape Fear River Otter that comes around every January since we've lived in our home. Sadly, I was not able to capture any video this year. The otter, which I assume to be the same one, looks plump with winter fat from dining on the ample supply of sunfish that have been multiplying with little predation in the ponds around our neighborhood. Although we've had an uncommonly cold winter to date, the trend this week has been a warming one, and maybe the otter was enjoying this weather with a little fishing to celebrate. Whatever the case, I do hope I get another chance to see it this weekend and take some video. At least Wally got to see the otter on the morning of his birthday, and hopefully he'll remember with fondness the wonderful wildlife that we have been able to view literally right out our breakfast room window.
We had a great turnout at the birthday party, and I can't help but feel that I've made a wonderful choice, along with my wife Melanie, in having and raising our family here in North Carolina. A visit to the exemplary Fort Fisher Aquarium is such a great reminder of what a neat part of the world we live in, with such a diverse amount of wildlife all around us, and the aquarium putting it all in perspective by displaying many of the species of fish, reptiles, amphibians and plants that make up our regional habitat in one place where one can be simply amazed, and grateful, to call it home. Well, except for the bugs. I can't say I've lived anywhere with so many bugs that were lying in wait to bite me before. The only place I've ever felt more threatened by various biting things was when I was serving in the Navy during Desert Storm and on detachment to Masirah, Oman. With camel spider, venomous snakes and other assorted scary desert creatures, that was a freaky place after the sun went down, but I was only visiting there, I live here and call it home. Anyways, even though I question some of the Carolina tendencies, I love this place.
It is with that sentiment that I have been planning the camping trip/s that I have mentioned in previous posts, and while I don't think for a moment that my sons will seriously appreciate the outings while we're there, I am hoping that they will at least remember them later and be able to recollect them with gratitude for their parents when they mature. Ok, so I also want to go camping so I can go fishing, but not just that...
Lets hope that otter's visit really was a good omen, and that this year brings great things for my family, and good fishing for both the otter an I.
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