The Hawaiian Humpback Whale
that moment of connection ...48 total reviews
Comment from Cumbrianlass
Absolutely splendid, Sharyn. Whales - any kind - are among my favourite animals on the planet. They are, indeed, awesome, magnificent and in desperate need of our respect and protection.
I hate that Japan and Norway still kill them. Totally unnecessary. We're a vile beast sometimes.
Your essay was informative and educational, told with a clear voice that in no way intimidated the reader. This should be published somewhere, imo.
Love it.
Av
reply by the author on 19-Mar-2013
  |
Absolutely splendid, Sharyn. Whales - any kind - are among my favourite animals on the planet. They are, indeed, awesome, magnificent and in desperate need of our respect and protection.
I hate that Japan and Norway still kill them. Totally unnecessary. We're a vile beast sometimes.
Your essay was informative and educational, told with a clear voice that in no way intimidated the reader. This should be published somewhere, imo.
Love it.
Av
Comment Written 19-Mar-2013
reply by the author on 19-Mar-2013
-
Mine too - did you see "The Cove?" 2009 Academy Award winner for best documentary - Japan's dolphin fishing practices - you won't forget it in a hurry. I set out to write a low-key, approachable article that was informative but not preachy, so I particularly appreciate your lovely six on this one Av! :))Sharyn
-
I couldn't watch that film. It would drive me into depression and give me nightmares for weeks.
And you totally deserved the six.
:)
-
more than that, it just pisses you off - and you finish the film feeling REALLY unfriendly towards the Japanese!
Comment from adewpearl
I love your easy-to-visualize examples for the size of this whale
I had no idea about their seasonal eating habits - this is fascinating stuff :-)
This is an excellent essay - informative and advocates so well for these unique creatures :-) Brooke
reply by the author on 19-Mar-2013
 |
I love your easy-to-visualize examples for the size of this whale
I had no idea about their seasonal eating habits - this is fascinating stuff :-)
This is an excellent essay - informative and advocates so well for these unique creatures :-) Brooke
Comment Written 19-Mar-2013
reply by the author on 19-Mar-2013
-
bless you Brooke! :)Sharyn
Comment from Tonulak
Dear Sharon,
This was really a delightful and informative article, written with undeniable passion.
I've seen a few in my travels and actually saw a film at a show of the Paul Winter Consort, where plays "whale songs" with an alto sax to/with the whales. Funny, but I hadn't thought of that in years...Really outstanding writing--Ted
reply by the author on 19-Mar-2013
|
Dear Sharon,
This was really a delightful and informative article, written with undeniable passion.
I've seen a few in my travels and actually saw a film at a show of the Paul Winter Consort, where plays "whale songs" with an alto sax to/with the whales. Funny, but I hadn't thought of that in years...Really outstanding writing--Ted
Comment Written 19-Mar-2013
reply by the author on 19-Mar-2013
-
Bless you Ted! Whale songs with an alto sax, hmm? wow! So glad you enjoyed this one and a huge HUGE "thank you" for the lovely six! :)Sharyn
Comment from poesyapprentice
Loved your ending, loved the notes and sentiment, and missed your usual spunk in the rest, my sweet. It was very fact-filled and great for education! I simply missed that sparkling personality of yours. Not so horrible, is it? But I'm very tired. Yes, that is it! I'm the one without the spunk. Ok, see there, now we are fine : ) I didn't see any typos, or none of that, and hope I haven't missed them and that it is, indeed, perfect there. I think my 16 year old son would enjoy this piece so I'm gonna have him take a look-see. My dream vacation is to swim with the dolphins. Are you living yours? Hugs, missy! ; )
reply by the author on 19-Mar-2013
|
Loved your ending, loved the notes and sentiment, and missed your usual spunk in the rest, my sweet. It was very fact-filled and great for education! I simply missed that sparkling personality of yours. Not so horrible, is it? But I'm very tired. Yes, that is it! I'm the one without the spunk. Ok, see there, now we are fine : ) I didn't see any typos, or none of that, and hope I haven't missed them and that it is, indeed, perfect there. I think my 16 year old son would enjoy this piece so I'm gonna have him take a look-see. My dream vacation is to swim with the dolphins. Are you living yours? Hugs, missy! ; )
Comment Written 19-Mar-2013
reply by the author on 19-Mar-2013
-
Well, non-fiction writes are a bit dullsville, aren't they? I started this one for a prompt but realized I'd posted 2 others very late one day and couldn't enter the damned thing ... why let that work go to waste, thought I? I'm sure SOMEONE must be interested in whales! :))))
-
Yep, my son! Lol! I was thinking, you have this amazing gift for imagery with scenery and the like, of making it magical. Put more of that in with those wonderful facts of yours and it will pop with the pleasures of you! How about that?! Love ya!
Comment from EMB
This was a terrific awareness piece, Sharyn (of both the Humpback Whales and your son). LOL At first, I thought you were a whale geek, but I'm thinking you've had tons of motivation to do research on them, considering how much you must see them every year.
Incidentally, I understand the polar bear isn't doing to great right now, either.
reply by the author on 19-Mar-2013
|
This was a terrific awareness piece, Sharyn (of both the Humpback Whales and your son). LOL At first, I thought you were a whale geek, but I'm thinking you've had tons of motivation to do research on them, considering how much you must see them every year.
Incidentally, I understand the polar bear isn't doing to great right now, either.
Comment Written 19-Mar-2013
reply by the author on 19-Mar-2013
-
Bless you for your magic six Ed! thank you so much! And no, the polar bear isn't doing at all well - the bears are drowning! And yes, we see whales every year - from the front deck of our house and they do define our seasons. I'm so glad you enjoyed this piece!
:)Sharyn
Comment from OLA THOMAS
What a wonderful informative and educative work you have done here. Good way to attract tourists to Hawaii too, the tourist board must pay you for this. Good work.
ola thomas
reply by the author on 19-Mar-2013
|
What a wonderful informative and educative work you have done here. Good way to attract tourists to Hawaii too, the tourist board must pay you for this. Good work.
ola thomas
Comment Written 19-Mar-2013
reply by the author on 19-Mar-2013
-
thx so much Ola! :)Sharyn
Comment from ZBaron
Apparently, I have awarded you six stars twice in the last month, so this will have to be of the virtual variety. This was extremely well-written with so much information packed into it. While it was very informative and educational, it did not read like a textbook at all. Rather, it was a pleasure to read and I really learned a lot. The size of their heart being the size of me is jaw dropping. Really great work here, Sharyn. I wish I could give you a six. -Zak
reply by the author on 19-Mar-2013
|
Apparently, I have awarded you six stars twice in the last month, so this will have to be of the virtual variety. This was extremely well-written with so much information packed into it. While it was very informative and educational, it did not read like a textbook at all. Rather, it was a pleasure to read and I really learned a lot. The size of their heart being the size of me is jaw dropping. Really great work here, Sharyn. I wish I could give you a six. -Zak
Comment Written 18-Mar-2013
reply by the author on 19-Mar-2013
-
Tut tut - a virtual it will have to be, Zac - thank you so much! Yes, we don't realize the SCALE of these things until we're right there eye-balling them - pretty amazing!
:)
Comment from Jumbo J
Hi Sharyn,
you hit the mark for me with this write.i had such an experience. When I lived and worked in Byron, I paddled out riggers. There where humpbacks in a couple of groups playing around,a few had calves. On our way out to the rock(Julian Rocks) we paddled over to have a closer look. They swam under the canoe, came up and interacted with us, it was magic. So we started paddling out and around the rock, all of us probably in our own world when on the way back; the canoe picked up pace, and I thought to myself,wow this is the best we've ever paddled. Suddenly the whooooosh broke the silence of the waters surface. Right behind us a big male had been swimming with us and we where actually being propelled by his movement. Well as you can imagine,six paddlers all with different reactions, some pleading for everyone to remain still as they were scared that we might be in trouble. But I knew that this big fellow was having a moment with us and he had no intentions of hurting us. This is still etched into my memory and I would do anything to protect them, this was definitely one of the highlights of my life!!! Thank you for sharing this story and let me wish you the best of luck for this contest, you wrote a very beautiful story that brought back a very special memory.
Kindest thoughts,
James xx
reply by the author on 19-Mar-2013
|
Hi Sharyn,
you hit the mark for me with this write.i had such an experience. When I lived and worked in Byron, I paddled out riggers. There where humpbacks in a couple of groups playing around,a few had calves. On our way out to the rock(Julian Rocks) we paddled over to have a closer look. They swam under the canoe, came up and interacted with us, it was magic. So we started paddling out and around the rock, all of us probably in our own world when on the way back; the canoe picked up pace, and I thought to myself,wow this is the best we've ever paddled. Suddenly the whooooosh broke the silence of the waters surface. Right behind us a big male had been swimming with us and we where actually being propelled by his movement. Well as you can imagine,six paddlers all with different reactions, some pleading for everyone to remain still as they were scared that we might be in trouble. But I knew that this big fellow was having a moment with us and he had no intentions of hurting us. This is still etched into my memory and I would do anything to protect them, this was definitely one of the highlights of my life!!! Thank you for sharing this story and let me wish you the best of luck for this contest, you wrote a very beautiful story that brought back a very special memory.
Kindest thoughts,
James xx
Comment Written 18-Mar-2013
reply by the author on 19-Mar-2013
-
thx so much for telling me about that wonderful experience, James! It's so rare we actually get to 'commune' with other species and when we do it's surely precious! :)S
Comment from Cornelius2000
I have not had the pleasure of getting up close to a whale, but I'm certainly in support of regulations to make sure we don't lose them...what a terrible thing that would be.
You've written beautifully about them, and hopefully, your words will help convince people to let these creatures be.
reply by the author on 19-Mar-2013
|
I have not had the pleasure of getting up close to a whale, but I'm certainly in support of regulations to make sure we don't lose them...what a terrible thing that would be.
You've written beautifully about them, and hopefully, your words will help convince people to let these creatures be.
Comment Written 18-Mar-2013
reply by the author on 19-Mar-2013
-
Thx so much Dave! :)Sharyn
Comment from words
I love your essay on the humpback whale and summer in Hawaii.
This is funny, informative and very well written.
You are a pro.
Loved it.
Hugs, d
reply by the author on 19-Mar-2013
|
I love your essay on the humpback whale and summer in Hawaii.
This is funny, informative and very well written.
You are a pro.
Loved it.
Hugs, d
Comment Written 18-Mar-2013
reply by the author on 19-Mar-2013
-
so glad you enjoyed it d! have to liven up non-fiction a bit, hmm? :)S
