mermaid beginnings part 1 : mom

my mom, my island in the sea of life

Mer pup laying on mom while she floats on the water

"Dripping from the sea wearing only a skirt of seaweed she asked me to find a feather for her. Her hair was golden on her brown skin as she came to me with her wet hair and filled my navel with the sea."

This is from a journal clipping my mom wrote about me, mama's wild child.

Here is another clipping she saved from her journal:

"December 12th, 1969: My daughter and I walked along the deserted beach on this afternoon of sun and briskness - each collecting their favorites from the sea. I was singing Woodie Guthrie's song "This Land is our Land" loudly and freely. Stacey sang her own song of freedom in her secret tongue. The beach was strange and lovely - washed smooth and clean like the sand at low tide. My joy was slightly saddened by the fact that this was to be my last day of living in Sunset Beach for awhile. Once again to leave my Sister the Sea and return to my mortal family. We came back to our room and I turned on the radio and heard that the California Coast had been predicted to be destroyed by tidal waves and earthquakes this afternoon. And there we had been on the waters edge and did not know that we should have been afraid."

This epitomizes my mother so perfectly - blissfully unaware, she purposely avoided being tuned in to the fear waves, instead immersed in nature, singing and never afraid.

I'm grateful to my mom for bringing me up in our natural world, showing me how to tune in to what really matters. She instilled in me a deep connection to nature, as she nurtured the wild child within and my love for the water and ocean.

She raised me the way she wanted to live, as close to nature as possible, in the middle of "nowhere", nothing but nature at our doorstep. Always with water nearby. I have many magical childhood memories, thanks to her.

When we lived in the foothills we would hike to waterfalls and hot springs and walk to the beach, exploring the tide pools and sea caves.

little mermaid in the opening of a sea cave

Later we joined an outdoor community in the mountains, steps away from swimming holes where I could splash and play to my heart's content.

To Hawaii

We moved from the Southern California mountains across the sea and lived in a treehouse along the beach on Kauai. A stream entered the sea where we lived, creating a tide pool of fresh water. That is where I learned to hold my breath and open my eyes under water.

My mom's painting of treehouse that fronted the community where we lived in Haena, Kauai

We went by small boat to a remote valley and camped on the beach with friends and then my mom and I hiked the 12 mile trail home, with waterfalls and sheer cliffs, back to our treehouse.

Hiking back from Kalalau Valley, Na Pali Coast, Kauai

I have a magical memory of swimming in a cave. It was dark when we entered, but we swam to a smaller cave deeper within, which had glowing blue water, my mom swimming with me on her back. She was always so strong and fearless.

Back to California

We moved back to the California mountains with a creek to play in and a river nearby, where we would spend the long, hot summer days. I remember those wonderful summers so well, swimming under water and laying on moss covered rocks in the rippling water.

Soon after we moved back to California we went on an amazing adventure sailing to Mexico with friends on their 30 foot boat. I remember watching dolphins ride the waves in the wake of the boat and having a whale swim right next to us.

Other wonderful trips followed each summer, to lakes and rivers and islands up the West Coast to Canada. All of these experiences had a lasting effect on me.

Swimming in Mom's Wake

I recently learned that baby dolphins are able to keep up with the pod by swimming in mama's wake while their fins and fluke develop strength. That made me think of me and my mom - we walked everywhere when I was little. I don't think she ever used or owned a stroller. I grew strong by having to keeping up with her, following in her wake so to speak, and now I am swimming through life in her wake.

I hope this story will help to continue the legacy. That it will inspire others to spend lots of time in nature with their little ones and this will instill a love for our inheritance, the natural world.

Oceans of Love,

StaySea oOoOoOo

Black and White Photos by Steve Weber, in Gratitude and Loving Memory.