Magical moments

Yertl the Turtle is what my son and I used to call sea turtles when he was a toddler.  We'd walk over very early in the morning to sit on the black rock point at the beach.  The sun would begin it's ascent over the dormant volcano, Haleakala, and soon burn off the shadow of night, replacing it with warmth and blue sky.   We'd choose a fairly smooth rock on which to perch then silently watch the ocean.  Nary a peep would come from my son as he'd sit beside me or on my lap.  His blue-grey eyes sweeping left then right.  Intent on seeing the shell or better still the head bob up for air.

"I see him, Mom" he'd say excitedly but not too loudly.  He'd point in the direction of movement with those indescribably cute little child hands.  The hands that every Mom knows and misses as her child grows up.  He'd turn his head to be sure I'd heard him and I'd see the excitement in his eyes.  He'd look and look again.  Then he'd sit back on my lap and we'd make up stories about what Yertl might be doing today.

"I think he's eating seaweed, Mom" to which I'd agree.  "How come the waves don't bother him?" to which the answer was it's his home and he's very, very strong.  "Where are the other turtles?" was apparently not answered to his liking when I said, "They're probably done with breakfast and are swimming somewhere else now".  My son, big hearted and ever-caring, kept his eyes on Yertl and said tenderly, "Well, that's not very nice.  His friends should have woke him up so they could all go together". 

Today as I went snorkeling I saw Yertl.  In fact, Yertl was quite content floating along so closely to me that we could have kissed.  I moved backward by circling my arms to push water and slowly distance us.  Yet he seemed happy to follow me.  Maybe Yertl saw us all those years ago watching him and feeling badly that his friends didn't wake him.  That's what the little boy of years ago might think.  But we know better.  

My son is a teenager now and, of course, has a more mature view of what Yertl does.  It doesn't mean, however, that his mom wouldn't have loved to have shared her magical Yertl encounter with him. 

Who goes there?

Many a critter skittered, waddled, walked and crawled on the beach before 7am. 

Toadally unexpected

These purple beauties demanded their photo be taken and I obligingly took several.  I sat by the pond for several minutes looking at them and the breathtaking view out over the Pacific Ocean along the Hana Highway.  At one point in my peripheral view, it seemed the lily pads moved, surged up.  I watched the pond intently.  No movement, perhaps the Maui sun has baked my brain.

 

A cooling wind stirred.  I leaned my head back to watch the palm fronds sway against the backdrop of the tropical blue sky.  When I decided to get up off the ground, I looked squarely into two angry eyes staring intently at me.  She sat still so I did the same.  I sat still some more.  She moved......toward me, grumbled something that if interpreted was most likely akin to "Mama's gonna mess you up".  It was then that I saw many black tadpoles wriggling amongst the lily pads and Mama's feet.  Not one to aggravate the wildlife, I packed up and moved on with the day.

It would seem she is a Cane Toad.  Also called Marine Toad or Bufo marinus.  They like to be near water for breeding and apparently it's breeding/birthing time on Maui by the looks of this one up above.   They secrete a poisonous substance from the glands in their neck if they feel threatened.  A dog could die if they bite one.  Scientists strongly advise against licking them as it can cause a horrible tongue fungus or even death.  What??!?!  Here I was looking for a stick laying about on which to have a Toadipop.  Sorry, you'd clearly have to be stoned out of your gourd to lick a toad.  Just sayin'.