Everlasting Impressions

Friday we picked Yaya up after school and we headed to Six Flags to celebrate her "Gotcha Day" and my mom's 59th birthday. Yaya couldn't wait because we were meeting my aunt, uncle and cousins there. We road rides and had some amazing encounters with a few animals.

When I was about 7 years old I was picked out of the audience to play with Shamu the killer whale at Sea World. It was a moment that changed my life forever.  To this day I am infatuated with whales, dolphins and anything that lives in the ocean.  Touching Shamu's skin and tongue and then hugging him was a moment I'll never forget.  It changed who I was both inside and out.  I think Yaya may have experienced something very similar this weekend during one or two of our animal encounters.

While talking to one of the elephant's trainers I learned this beautiful elephant is 47 years old and she moved to Six Flags after spending most of her life at the Wild Animal Park in Southern CA.  The thing that makes her extra special to our family is this.  My parents took my brother and I to the Wild Animal Park almost every Friday as kids which means we have seen her before.  How wonderful and crazy is it that we got to spend time with an elephant from my childhood?  Even more incredible is the fact we all got to touch her.  Never in a million years did I imagine I would get such an opportunity.  Yaya was terrified of her at first but she warmed up and finally agreed to get within 2 feet of this amazing creature. 

I wonder if she remembers us too. 

The end of her trunk is shaped like a heart!  I'm convinced God shows us he loves us in nature all the time if only we would slow down and pay attention.

My dad ran over to us and told us to "Hurry!  Come quick!"  I sobbed tears of joy immediately when I saw my daughter and cousin, Brock playing hide and seek with these dolphins.  I hope this video I took makes you laugh and smile.  As Bird said, "The fact that they're wearing Superhero capes makes this moment all the more fun and special.  The entire scenario screams CHILDHOOD AT IT'S BEST!"

We stayed in the park for almost an hour after closing while the kids and dolphins played together.  We  even met one of their trainers, Ricky. He (Ricky) was so kind and seemed just as excited as we were to see the dolphins interacting with us the way they did.  He answered tons of our questions and was so sweet.  He even thanked us for playing with them.  It's moments like these that leave lasting impressions on a child and even adult's heart forever. 

I'm sure these two were smiling just for me.

   What I wouldn't give to know what these baby girls were thinking as they gazed into each other's eyes.

Our "Gotcha Day" and my mom's birthday couldn't have ended more perfect!