The day after seeing the movie my family and I went to the beach for a week. Now, back then, the Gulf Coast wasn't known for Great whites, but I just couldn't get the movie out of my mind. I saw fins everywhere I looked. The water was unusually dark that week and so was my imagination! That's when I decided that I would be the great Marine Biologist and "Shark Whisperer." After all, the water would be safer if we could all just get along, right?" I began reading books about sharks, talking to my dad and relatives about sharks as many of them had been on the water their whole lives. After a lot of laughter by the "old timers" and after a lot of research I learned that sharks don't want you to whisper to them and they don't understand "nice". When they see us, they just think "Snack!!" SO, I put that little dream in the box, along with the Astronaut dream and went about my life.
But, every now and then there would be the random re-run of Jaws, or a vacation visit to an aquarium somewhere around the southeast with my family would make me want to dust off the old dream.. especially with the Sharks safely behind glass. Then, a few years ago, it happened! A whole week each year on Discovery channel dedicated to Sharks!! SHARK WEEK!!!! There they are, swimming around, lunging at boats, and chomping at other would- be "shark-whisperers" in steel cages.I just sit there with my mouth open. I don't think Sharks have gotten any nicer, or are any more eager to "get along" with us, but evidently other scientists have had the same idea as I once did. They play music for the Sharks, they study their brains and try to befriend them. But invariably, there they are, ripping off their shirts showing off their shark-bite scars. Good call, not to follow that dream!
Here is what I've learned from my fascination with Sharks, Jaws and Shark Week:
1. It's generally safe to go back into the water, unless it's not!
2. If you see a big shark, you need a bigger boat!
3. Getting into a cage to whisper to a Shark isn't a good idea.
4. They don't make friends, they eat tires, rafts, boats oars, license plates, and people, no refined palate, there.
God made everything for a reason, Sharks have their purpose and I have mine...and it's okay if we all just don't "get along" in the water!
Happy Shark Week Everyone!
