Sunday, June 13, 2010

Time Bomb

Just before adopting Sonny, my family (AND me too!) went on a vacation to the Florida Keys.  I flew on a plane for the first time.  This I did not like... 
My mom had to shove me into a backpack and put me under the seat in front of her.  Ok, ok, it was a backpack made for dawgs like me with plenty of ventilation and a comfortable bed but, jeesh, to be treated like a carry-on bag is so beneath me!  Any way, I had a little benedryl (which did nothing to stop my crying) and we arrived in one piece. 
We drove for what felt like an eternity until we reached a little shack my mom rented in Cudjoe Key.  Cudjoe?  Really?  Are my humans trying to tell me something?  The "cottage" was cute, a little worn out, but the owners allowed dawgs so we weren't complaining. 
Most of the time I hung out with the family but they did leave me a few times to go snorkeling.  They snorkeled at Bahia Honda State Park and saw a huge conch,
a bunch of lobsters, barracuda and some oversized hermit crabs.
They did two boat trips out to reefs for more snorkeling.  Eastern Dry Rocks Reef off of Key West and Looe Key Reef off of Big Pine Key.  At Eastern Dry Rocks my mom, Jessie and Leah were surrounded by a school of at least twelve 100 pound plus Tarpon.  They said it was eerie because they were just floating in the paths between coral heads and they were gigantic!
At Looe my mom saw a reef shark that was between 4' and 5'.  It gave her a little startle because it swam within 10' of her but it must not have been hungry because she still has all her fingers and toes.
Later she was swimming along and a Sea Turtle came right up underneath her.  Everyone else was out of the water by then so she enjoyed the experience alone.  She says its something she'll keep with her for the rest of her life.
Today my mom was reduced to tears seeing pictures of the wildlife being destroyed by the oil spill in the Gulf.  If something isn't done, the fragile reef system off the Florida coast may suffer or die as well.  It is so frustrating to watch the seemingly unending flow of oil billowing up into the beautiful turquoise waters of the Gulf and now spreading like a cancer through the water onto the shore. 
My mom's heart is ripped apart thinking about the pain these poor birds, dolphin and fish are being subjected to as a result of this human caused disaster.  The human toll is devastating as well.  The loss of income and livelihoods for those in the fishing and tourism industries is catastrophic.  We pray that the wound to the seabed can be sutured so the bleeding of oil ends and the clean-up can begin.  We pray for all those, human and animal, who are suffering as a result.  We pray for an end to this disaster.   Please.

16 comments:

Bandit's Pack said...

Wonderful post. BP makes us so angry here, and you're so right that their disgusting gushing oil is like a spreading cancer. My sister and her husband used to live in Key West and I have many fond memories of visits down there before I married, and once with my husband (then boyfriend). I love all your pictures; they make me wish I was there again.

Bijou said...

Hi Pedro,

Wow you got to go on a plane! It wouldn't be fun riding under the seat but getting to vacation with your family makes up for that. Since we have never been to a beach, we really liked your pictures of the fishes and stuff. Thanks for sharing!

Waggles,
Bijou

Rambo said...

Hi Cousin Pedro,
I got to go on a plane once too, and I didn't like it one bit. It was noisy and cold and I shivered the whole time. I'm glad you survived the trip!
You're pictures are beautiful!! Looks like your hoomans had a great time.
G-Mom said she gets sick to her stomach when she thinks of all the poor fish and birdies getting covered in muckety muck oil. It is so SAD. She can't even look at the pictures. That big oil co. should be ashamed of themselves. Let's hope and pray they get it cleaned up. SAVE the WILDLIFE BP!!!!!

NAK and The Residents of The Khottage Now With KhattleDog! said...

It must be nice to be able to fit under the seat so woo khan fly with your mom!

Thanks fur sharing your pawesome trip!

Woo should have stopped to see Mooose!

We get furry sad when we see how much damage is being done...

Hugz&Khysses,
Khyra

Niamh said...

Looks like a great trip Pedro. We are too big to fit in backpacks so I guess there will be no airplanes for us as I refuse to ride in the belly of the plane. thanks for all the great pictures.

Your friends,
Niamh & Ambrose

Suka said...

hey Pedro,

You flew in a plane?! Scary! I hope you did not have to go through those awful body scanners and have your dignity and DNA destroyed!

What amazing photos! Sounds like you had an amazing trip! Too bad you couldn't go snorkeling, too! It would have been great to meet all those beautiful underwater creatures!

My human is beside herself from the monumental tragedy that BP created. We want to do something to stop the oil and help all the creatures suffering from the devastation, but we don't know what to do. We pray and send love and healing but the oil keeps coming out. Thanks for mentioning it in your post. Something needs to be done, and very very soon. I don't want this to be the death of the ocean.

Suka

Lorenza said...

Hi, Pedro!
Wow! Sure you all had a pawesome vacation! Maybe you did not like the flight but sure you did it in style!
I hope they can stop that oil leak soon!
Take care
Kisses and hugs
Lorenza

Asta said...

Pedwo
Whe I flewed to Wome wif my pawents a few yeaws ago I didn't get such a cool looking backpack to be in, and I too sat undew the seat..mommi says the dwugs would have made me cwazy so I didn't take any and I was fie..slept all the way.
That looks like a bootifulplace you went to
smoochie kisses
ASTA

River said...

It looks like your mom had a special vacation and thank goodness there was no oil there! We also cry thinking about the poor animals who can't go anywhere else but where the oil is...at least you got to travel in the people cabin so you were safe.

love & wags,
River

Sketching with Dogs said...

Oh Pedro, we love your photos so much. You are so lucky to go on such a great holiday even though you did have to go in a noisy aeroplane.
Our mother has turned green with envy, haha.
Wags, Dip Bridge and Elliot xx

Khady Lynn said...

All we have for what is going on down there are a LOT of HBO words! It makes us so angry! This devastation will last for decades!

Holly

Moco said...

That looks like a wonderful vacation.

JB's Big and Small Worlds said...

Pedro, buddy! These are great pics! My mom has never been to this part of Florida. I hope the oil does not go there. These fishies are gorgeous.
--JB

i said...

You have a new brother? Hi Sonny! Nice to meet you!

Jemma Chihuahua said...

Pedro, that looked like a very fun trip! You will get used to traveling under the seat in front of your humans :)

Coco Bean - The Princess said...

Hey cousin Pedro! Me and my sisters are back and we have missed you!!!

Tail Wiggles & Puppy Kisses,

Your Cousin Coco The Princess

PS. is my mommy remembering correctly that yo have a table that you put beach glass into? My mommy went to a private beach here in CA and she found some REALLY pretty shells she would like to send you a few of them for your table. Peemail us your address!

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