Member-only story
NURTURE NATURE
The First Whale Song
When it’s real, it’s different
This is writing from my daily Wordle prompt. I hope you enjoy. If you haven’t solved the Wordle, then you might want to move on.
I distinctly remember the first time I heard it. We were driving up the Oregon Coast, on our way to somewhere. We stopped at a park based on a recommendation that we might be able to see whales right off the coast.
Honestly, I wasn’t exactly excited about it. I had heard whale song recordings before, and I’m more of a machines and computers guy than an animals and outdoors guy. But, it was a nice day, so a bit of time outside the car would be good.
There was one other car pulled off and a guy with binoculars near the edge of the water. When we approached, he pointed, cupped his hand around his hear and gave my daughter an enthusiastic smile. She was five years old at the time, super cute and generally up for being friendly to anybody who smiled at her.
We looked, we waited, we listened in silence.
Then I heard it. This low, deep, purposeful howl. It wasn’t hurried or hurt. It wasn’t needy or wanting. It wasn’t just a sound. It was communication. It had meaning, and it was meant for something.
