Life's A Beach Part 3
The Princess has lived her dream.
Which is a great thing to have done by the age of 10, don’t you think?
Her goal in life has been to swim with a dolphin.
No more, no less.
And since I am in the running for Mother of the Year, I am all about dream fulfillment.
However.
I am not all about cold water so I sent The King to join her on this adventure.
We could have sent her in by herself, but in case the swimming mammal had chosen that particular moment to attack, someone would have had to throw himself in its path.
And who better than The King?
There were 12 people who were signed up to swim with a dolphin.
And The Princess was the only person under the age of 30.
Weird.
Each person got to do a trick with the dolphin. The Princess floated on her back with the dolphin floating on its back beside her. When the dolphin would complete its trick, it would get so excited and squeal. It made an especially loud squeal for The Princess.
All of the dolphin-loving adults did their tricks.
Except for The King. He was last. He was supposed to twist and swim with the dolphin doing the same.
But the dolphin wouldn’t cooperate. It swam off and left The King in its dust.
And when they finished?
No squeal. The King was the only participant that didn’t get a squeal.
After the tricks it was time for the swimming.
The dolphin-loving adults and The Princess were to grab onto the dolphin’s dorsal fin and hold on while the dolphin made a lap around the pool.
Each person had their turn and earned the appropriate squeal.
Except for The King.
When The King reached for the dorsal fin---the dolphin freaked.
It took off and started rapidly swirling around The King’s legs.
Which I thought might possibly be a sign of aggression.
And having her dad eaten by a dolphin would have really messed up The Princess’ dream.
So the dolphin trainer person had The King rub the dolphin’s head and try to make friends.
Then they tried the swim again.
No luck.
Dolphin freaked.
The Queen Mother and I were concerned.
Or hysterically laughing.
I can’t seem to remember which.
The dolphin trainer person finally told The King he could “lead the dolphin in singing a song”.
We think it was so The King wouldn’t feel bad about himself.
And so they wouldn’t have to refund his money.
He balked at first.
But went for it with gusto.
Which apparently mortified The Princess.
We don’t know why the dolphin hated The King.
But it did.
And it appears to me that the dolphin is sticking out its tongue at him.
The dolphin trainer person told us that the reason that the dolphin kept swimming away from The King as fast as possible is that it wanted to play with him.
That’s a good one.
And these pictures don’t really show anything other than the creepiness of looking through the tank at the distorting of the body.
Look how the legs don’t line up with the body.
CREEPY.
It was so much fun to see The Princess totally and completely happy.
And to see The King completely and utterly dissed.
I mean that in the nicest way possible.
More later...
Oh my word! Best vacation blog EVER!
Posted by: Rocks In My Dryer | May 12, 2008 at 11:52 PM
It would be me dissed by the dolphin, I'm sure of it.
What a great day, though!!
Posted by: Headless Mom | May 13, 2008 at 12:03 AM
Flippin' hilarious... yet again! Poor King... but so happy for the princess! Have lot's of fun!
Smiles,
Jen
Posted by: jennifer gordon | May 13, 2008 at 12:41 AM
The Princess had the biggest smile I have ever seen. Totally worth it.
Posted by: Queen Mother | May 13, 2008 at 01:13 AM
Awesome. Just Awesome. Hooray for a happy Princess.
Posted by: Lisa@take90west | May 13, 2008 at 05:58 AM
Ha ha! My husband got spit on by the elephant at the zoo once. And, FYI, they hold a whole lotta water up in their trunks. I'm sure it just wanted to "play" with Rod.
He smelled bad for hours. Oh the joy this memory brings back!
LOVE the dolphin/Princess picture. She will love it too.
Posted by: Diane | May 13, 2008 at 08:34 AM
I'm so proud of The Princess, I'm not sure that any of my girlies would have been brave enough to get in there! Me, on the other hand...in a heartbeat!
BTW, your vacation destination is only about three hours from me...for Java?...that's just a hop, skip, and a jump!(Of course, Hubby disagrees :p)
Posted by: Fuschia | May 13, 2008 at 08:36 AM
What an amazing opportunity!!!
Posted by: Tracey | May 13, 2008 at 09:08 AM
Where in the world of Florida are you? That looks like too much fun! That would be something my kids would love to do one day.
Too bad for the King. Went all that way to be ridiculed by a mammal in water. Tsk, tsk.
Yay for the princess though, life's mission accomplished at 10. What next for her? :-)
Posted by: Tammy | May 13, 2008 at 09:13 AM
Your poor husband. Maybe it was the farmer's tan - too bright for the dolphin. Which, by the way, looks exactly like my husband's - better tell him to stay away from the dolphins!
Posted by: Christy | May 13, 2008 at 10:34 AM
So tickled for The Princess!
Keep it coming!
Posted by: pattik | May 13, 2008 at 10:51 AM
Your daughter has now lived my daughter's dream.
And (let's be honest) my husband's. He was studying marine biology before the business world engulfed him. He can't visit SeaWorld (and we had season passes in San Diego, mind you) without feeling a huge burden of regret.
He just wants to swim with the fishes.
(Not in the Mafia sense, of course.)
Posted by: Kelly @ Love Well | May 13, 2008 at 12:00 PM
SO funny!
Posted by: Meredith | May 13, 2008 at 12:02 PM
The dolphin is definitely sticking his tongue out at your man.
Your vacation looks heavenly. I am green wtih envy!
Posted by: Christie | May 13, 2008 at 12:42 PM
That first photo is the embodiment of dreams come true. Lucky Princess!
I would be one of those adults swimming with the dolphins, because MY mom didn't take me as a kid ;) Of course, with my luck, the dolphin would diss me. Poor King. I'm symathetic....or wheezing with laughter. One of those.
Posted by: canadacole | May 13, 2008 at 01:18 PM
This is one of your funniest posts ever!
Posted by: Tonggu Momma | May 13, 2008 at 02:29 PM
How fun! That really is every girls dream, huh!
Posted by: Shauna | May 13, 2008 at 02:38 PM
The Princess rocks! She will remember this forever. Now, the King, he might want to reconsider ever going in the ocean again. If the dolphins didn't like him imagine what the sharks will feel?
I love your mom's new blog.
Posted by: jean | May 13, 2008 at 05:04 PM
Your writing cracks me up! I like your style. Thanks for the smile,
Genny
www.mycup2yours.com
Posted by: Genny | May 13, 2008 at 06:49 PM
I'm cracking up! I've always wanted to swim with dolphins, but I'm deathly afraid of marine animals! Maybe someday!
Posted by: Sarah (Real Life) | May 13, 2008 at 07:00 PM
That is what my Princess says she wants to do and then she wants to be a dolphin trainer when she grows up! I will have to show this to her, she'll be drooling over those pics and it will fuel her desire even further!!
Fabulous!
Posted by: rachel | May 13, 2008 at 09:26 PM
Oh, that was absolutely HILARIOUS!!! I'm thinking the King will never live this down, right?
Posted by: Heather @ Loving Our Homeschool | May 13, 2008 at 09:31 PM
Oh, so fun! Poor the King. Yay for the Princess!
Yes, the body thing was creepy.
Posted by: Janel | May 13, 2008 at 10:27 PM
I totally noticed the body thing before I read your comment about it. WEIRD!!!
Posted by: Org Junkie | May 13, 2008 at 10:39 PM