August 14, 2006
red fish, blue fish
8/14/06
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Hey Lucy!
I need to tell you something. You are very, very small. The Pacific Ocean, on the other hand, is very big. It covers about a third of the planet, roughly 69.4 million square miles.
You are about 21 pounds. The Pacific Ocean is 161 million cubic miles in volume. And let me say that I am SO PROUD of your fearlessness. We go to the ocean every evening, and you run into it, clothed or naked, only looking back twice. But I am a little worried that you're not taking the largest body of water in the Solar System particularly seriously.
You even got hit by a big wave last week that knocked you over and filled your sinuses with salt water. This didn't daunt your courage, as you were back the next day giggling at the mouth of the ocean.
In all honesty, perhaps it's not a bad idea. Maybe humanity itself, faced with such inconsequentiality that they turn to religion or cosmology or existential philosophy to make sense of their place in the universe, should follow your lead.
So I'll hold your hand very tightly in the waves, but I'll laugh at them too. I'll try that philosophy no matter where we are. Okay, my sweet?
Posted by Ian Williams at August 14, 2006 11:31 PMAwww, Lucy is so beautiful!
I was at Wrightsville Beach last month with my 18 month old cousin, and she acted the same way... she loved the ocean and I had a blast splashing around with her.
Thanks for the Lucy post, Ian!
Sounds very Nietzsche's Tragic Man.
My kinda girl!
Simply adorable. Very nice post.
Ian, this is gorgeous.
What gets even harder is when it is time to let go of their hands as they are fighting the waves.
Of course, my little girl just attacks the waves with a big ol' karate chop move. I love their fearlessness.
Both my kids love the waves and learning to buddy-swim in the ocean is metaphorically
invaluable, as life does tend to knock you on yer arse at times. REach the beach little surfer girl.
rock on fearless water babies!
we just took our boys to the beach on Sunday, along with our gigantic dog. the kids definitely won the wave taunting and splashing competition, dog came in a distant 3rd.
My almost-five year old won't go near the water....I think this is a good thing.
Lucy's stance and fearless glee in the photo remind me of the scene in the film version of "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" when Mos Def's Ford strides with outstretched hand toward an approaching car, trying to greet it because he thinks it is the planet's dominant life form. Mos Def had the same joyful innocence about him.
wow - she looks so much like your mom in this photo, don't you think?