What I find so precious about this essay is that there are so many forms of connection weaved through it. Connection to yourself in solitude. Connection to nature as you sit alone. Connection to other sentient beings in your witnessing of them. Connection to others as you share in marveling. Connection to your community here as you share your musings. It all feels so … interconnected. “It must mean something.” 💗
What a wonderful observation, Sabrina, thank you so much for sharing it with me. Sometimes (most of the time) I'm not even sure what the thread is that weaves through these essays, and it's such a gift to have a reader give me insight that I might have only subconsciously been aware of. Thank you, hand to heart.❤
“The stone burns bright in my pocket, and just for now, it belongs to all of us.” Perfect in every way. And now it belongs to all of us too Kendall. Thank you xx
Wendy! I just read your piece as well, and I just adored it. We collaborated unknowingly, and I’m so honored for our own created community here. Thank you, friend.
I love your self-admitting human-deprecating Kendall. So refreshing because we are all thinking, Are you REALLY enjoying those $150 dollar seats or is front row just part of your steaze?
I worked on a whale tagging crew in Queensland many many years ago and those footprints were just as significant as the moms and calves and their evening songs. It’s the splash and also the many many seemingly mundane moments in between that make this life so beautiful. You get it, I don’t need to tell you. ❤️
Oh, I just went over to read Wendy's essay (I love her so) and I'm just delighted at the synchronicity of it all. Also, I appreciate your shared judgement of the steaze-y folks. I try not to judge them, really I do, but I am no saint.
And I didn't know you worked on a whale tagging team in Queensland- how amazing! But I do know about the magical mundane, and our shared love of that space. Thanks for holding the ecstasy of the waiting. xx
Everything about this is so special. I hope Maui is treating you well and welcoming the family just like your whale welcomed you! I was LAUGHING at the imagery of boaters taking pictures of lord knows what. Although I doubt I'll be under the Gucci cabana, I hope one day to be the recipient of your tap to feast my eyes on the wonder of the sea. Xx
Maui has been the best hostess! We head home tonight, and it's bittersweet (we're all a little homesick and miss the cat.) ;) And I would LOVE to sit by the sea with you someday!
So so recognizable! All of it, the struggle to point out this wonder of a being, the mutual frustration when they don’t see or think they do but don’t really, the joy of connecting when they do truly see it… the judging of overpriced flashy seats to scroll endlessly while ignoring the wide wondrous ocean in front of us… what a wonderful piece Kendall! I could see you moving down the beach, including everyone in the wonder, a shared moment of awe 💙🫶🏼 enjoy your time in Hawaii!
I love this. I can see you sitting there, on the beach, totally absorbed, connected to the ocean and somehow to the whale! I would love to be there too!
You’re in Hawaii! If you’re stopping on Oahu, we should get a coffee! This piece reminds me of the time, when I was a fisheries observer in Alaska, that I spotted a pair of humpbacks a solid five minutes before my captain could see them. I was brand new on his boat, and he didn’t believe me when I first pointed them out. 🐳🐳
I love this! Do you know how there are "super smellers" that can detect odors that other people can't sense? I think there are "super spout-spotters" as well. We all have our things! 😂🐳 (And I wish we were going to be in Oahu, it would be so fun to see you! Sadly, that's not on the docket this time....).
The moments of shared connection like this in Nature are analogous to what Communion used to be for me when I was in organized Christianity, only better. They are embodied experiences that are undeniable and mystical. What a privilege and joy! So happy for you!
I am one of those sad human beings who has never seen a whale Kendall... except when I was a very young girl when on a school trip we watched an Orca being fed in captivity, I know, could anything be sadder? I cried so hard I was removed from the group.
I have never forgotten that day and have never willingly — on three occasions I have been obliged by my work — visited animals in captivity since.
Anyway, all that to say, if I had been sitting by you when you spotted that whale, my toes would have not only curled but danced an excited ditty in the warm sand, and even if my eyes were not trained well enough to spot the spout, just to have been in the presence of such majesty would have been enough.... and $150 for a chair? When there is warm sand? I am in pleats!
Love and spouts of light from my hill dear one... xxx
I was struck by your description of trying to point out whale spray from a boat. It's like growth. When you've learned to see yourself and life in a different way, some people don't get it at all, some people think they get it when they really don't, and some people get it and are your people. Such a beautiful metaphor, and thoughtful essay. Thanks for writing Kendall!
What I find so precious about this essay is that there are so many forms of connection weaved through it. Connection to yourself in solitude. Connection to nature as you sit alone. Connection to other sentient beings in your witnessing of them. Connection to others as you share in marveling. Connection to your community here as you share your musings. It all feels so … interconnected. “It must mean something.” 💗
What a wonderful observation, Sabrina, thank you so much for sharing it with me. Sometimes (most of the time) I'm not even sure what the thread is that weaves through these essays, and it's such a gift to have a reader give me insight that I might have only subconsciously been aware of. Thank you, hand to heart.❤
I love that connection :)
awesome!
“The stone burns bright in my pocket, and just for now, it belongs to all of us.” Perfect in every way. And now it belongs to all of us too Kendall. Thank you xx
This is beautiful. You created community! Because of course you did. Have a wonderful time in Maui, dear Kendall.
Wendy! I just read your piece as well, and I just adored it. We collaborated unknowingly, and I’m so honored for our own created community here. Thank you, friend.
Me, too. It’s the best community. ❤️
Oh! This is my second Hawaii, second animal watching, second hello-fellow-humans-who-care essay I’ve read today. Bookends really. You must read Wendy Wolf’s piece: https://open.substack.com/pub/wendygrace/p/emergence?r=3lmmp&utm_medium=ios
I love your self-admitting human-deprecating Kendall. So refreshing because we are all thinking, Are you REALLY enjoying those $150 dollar seats or is front row just part of your steaze?
I worked on a whale tagging crew in Queensland many many years ago and those footprints were just as significant as the moms and calves and their evening songs. It’s the splash and also the many many seemingly mundane moments in between that make this life so beautiful. You get it, I don’t need to tell you. ❤️
Oh, I just went over to read Wendy's essay (I love her so) and I'm just delighted at the synchronicity of it all. Also, I appreciate your shared judgement of the steaze-y folks. I try not to judge them, really I do, but I am no saint.
And I didn't know you worked on a whale tagging team in Queensland- how amazing! But I do know about the magical mundane, and our shared love of that space. Thanks for holding the ecstasy of the waiting. xx
Stones in pockets by the sea! Lovely.
Everything about this is so special. I hope Maui is treating you well and welcoming the family just like your whale welcomed you! I was LAUGHING at the imagery of boaters taking pictures of lord knows what. Although I doubt I'll be under the Gucci cabana, I hope one day to be the recipient of your tap to feast my eyes on the wonder of the sea. Xx
Maui has been the best hostess! We head home tonight, and it's bittersweet (we're all a little homesick and miss the cat.) ;) And I would LOVE to sit by the sea with you someday!
Beautiful
Thank you ❤
I love Maui! Thank you for sharing this to bring me back there. Such great visuals. Enjoy your vacation.
Isn't it magic? Thank you, KC!
Christmas brain - I read that as ‘Searching for SPROUTS’ lol. Those spouts are much more exciting.
That's amazing, and I'm now going to need to craft an essay about sprouts. 😂
Ooo, do it!
So so recognizable! All of it, the struggle to point out this wonder of a being, the mutual frustration when they don’t see or think they do but don’t really, the joy of connecting when they do truly see it… the judging of overpriced flashy seats to scroll endlessly while ignoring the wide wondrous ocean in front of us… what a wonderful piece Kendall! I could see you moving down the beach, including everyone in the wonder, a shared moment of awe 💙🫶🏼 enjoy your time in Hawaii!
I knew you'd get this one, Vic! Thank you for seeing me. ;) xx
I love this. I can see you sitting there, on the beach, totally absorbed, connected to the ocean and somehow to the whale! I would love to be there too!
It would be amazing to have you here watching whales with me!
You’re in Hawaii! If you’re stopping on Oahu, we should get a coffee! This piece reminds me of the time, when I was a fisheries observer in Alaska, that I spotted a pair of humpbacks a solid five minutes before my captain could see them. I was brand new on his boat, and he didn’t believe me when I first pointed them out. 🐳🐳
I love this! Do you know how there are "super smellers" that can detect odors that other people can't sense? I think there are "super spout-spotters" as well. We all have our things! 😂🐳 (And I wish we were going to be in Oahu, it would be so fun to see you! Sadly, that's not on the docket this time....).
The moments of shared connection like this in Nature are analogous to what Communion used to be for me when I was in organized Christianity, only better. They are embodied experiences that are undeniable and mystical. What a privilege and joy! So happy for you!
Absolutely! Now we get to make our own communion in the world, Robert. And I think it's even more precious when we find it. Thank you!
I am one of those sad human beings who has never seen a whale Kendall... except when I was a very young girl when on a school trip we watched an Orca being fed in captivity, I know, could anything be sadder? I cried so hard I was removed from the group.
I have never forgotten that day and have never willingly — on three occasions I have been obliged by my work — visited animals in captivity since.
Anyway, all that to say, if I had been sitting by you when you spotted that whale, my toes would have not only curled but danced an excited ditty in the warm sand, and even if my eyes were not trained well enough to spot the spout, just to have been in the presence of such majesty would have been enough.... and $150 for a chair? When there is warm sand? I am in pleats!
Love and spouts of light from my hill dear one... xxx
I was struck by your description of trying to point out whale spray from a boat. It's like growth. When you've learned to see yourself and life in a different way, some people don't get it at all, some people think they get it when they really don't, and some people get it and are your people. Such a beautiful metaphor, and thoughtful essay. Thanks for writing Kendall!
Thank you for always returning me to the earth sister 🐋🌎🙏