Loose Lips - the best, and worst, part of my job

[Carl & Polly & Bob (GA)]

I have the coolest job in the world. I get to see so many incredible things. That's the best part of it. Today it was also the worst part of it. A pilot whale beached itself on the south end of our island this morning, and there was nothing that could be done to save it.

Worst because it's the whole circle of life thing, things die, and it sucks watching it happen.
Best because I've never seen a whale in my life, especially not from two feet away.

I'll post a couple pics later, but here's a link to a facebook page that my daughter just sent me. That would be me with the whale.

Carl

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?f....194954903880903.42283.121617331214661&type=1

 

[Sienne and Gabby (GA)]

I had a chance to go whale watching and saw several of those miraculous creatures breach. They were playing. It was awe inspiring. It makes me sad to see one pass.

 

[ecurie]

oh Carl,
It must have been so very hard to watch and not be able to help. It's so sorrowful when you have to watch someone pass. I'm sure it knew that you were near and had love and caring in your heart.
We tried very hard to save a beached whale here in so. fl many years ago. It was futile, but at least there were lots of us there, quietly sending love. I like to think it helped. I'm sure your thoughts and caring helped.
take good care
mary and oliver

 

[Carl & Polly & Bob (GA)]

Here are a couple of pics:

This is a link to a photobucket album. There are pics and vids, but given the circumstances, some of them or sort of disturbing. The long vid is when they picked it up by a crane and loaded it on to a truck. It went to Charleston where it will be necropsied to see if they can determine why it beached itself to die. The whole experience was kind of surreal. It lasted from about 10 this morning until 5 this evening. Horrible but at the same time very educational and humbling. This was a truly magnificent creature, and making eye contact with it was so incredible. It was a "teenaged" male, about 2000 pounds, and about 16-17 feet long. The crew of people from DNR and NOAA that came to handle it were such a great group of people. Very respectful of the whale, and the guy operating the crane was awesome. He handled it like it was made of glass.

http://s1102.beta.photobucket.com/user/carlinsc/library/whale

I hope I don't bum anyone out. But this was one of those once-in-a-lifetime things I wanted to share with you all.

Carl

 

[rhiannon and shadow (GA)]

Wow. That is and :sad: .
Definitely an intense experience, something you won't forget.

I closed down my facebook account almost a year ago and had to send your link to my son where he was able to open up the picture for me.