“PERFECTLY ON TIME” MUSING
There’s really no point in running away – wherever I go I have to take myself with me.

Yes – I’ve been absent. Do the details need to be included here in this post? Not really. Perhaps it’s adequate to say I found myself having a somewhat extended dance with my shadow. It seems to be beyond my capability to reach out and ask for help and this self-sufficient (stubborn?) streak continues to rule at times. Then suddenly an intervention of sorts takes place. A passage from a daily reading carries an impact; a connection with another person walking through a difficult portion of their life story resonates; the poppies burst into bloom; and suddenly everything is once again very clearly “Perfectly on Time“.

I’ve also used that beginning and written a piece over at Substack but on a bit different track. Feel free to go explore if you’re so inclined.

Some days ago now I landed on a 10-year old YouTube with Mark Nepo. He noted what he referred to as “Two Movements” for the presentation:

(1) Knowing where we are and (2) Keeping what is true before us.

And then made this statement right near the beginning: “I think what we’re called to do is have the courage to ask for what we need and the depth of being to accept whatever we’re given”.

And that was all I needed to hear to know I was going to find those “Perfectly on Time” nuggets of wisdom he so eloquently shares with the world. One of them was to remember that “Every moment is unrepeatable – it doesn’t happen again”.

At some point in this video Mark makes a reference to “...writing, expressing and living from our heart and that’s what introduces us to our worth.” I have no idea why but I suddenly had a flashback to an event that took place in Hawaii and found myself grinning from ear to ear at the recall and the “story” that went with it.

Enter the Turtle Story!

When it started.

When Don and I took our first trip to Maui around 1998 I was introduced to snorkeling. Swimming has never been a natural, love-to-do, kind of event for me but I really, really wanted to enter the waters to be with the sea turtles that were resident at the Royal Mauian where we were staying. There’s this beautiful reef out front, accessible via Kamaole Beaches I or II. While sitting on the lanai at our unit we would often see them – sometimes they would be close-in and would appear to be kind of stranded on the rocks and lava but would always be pulled back into the ocean via the natural currents and waves.

There’s this great little snorkel shop across the street from Royal Mauian – Auntie Snorkel’s Beach Rentals so I went over to have a chat and let them know what a wimp I was. No one, I mean literally no one was going to convince me that the salt water would keep me afloat! They were so very kind and helpful and encouraged me to no end. I of course ended up with the appropriate gear which included flippers, a snorkel mask AND most important a bright yellow, waist floater belt that would keep me from drowning (forever and ever).

That first year we took a snorkeling trip to Molokini. Of course Don was with me and because he was part fish I knew I’d be fine. The adventures that were to unfold over the years at that reef in front of the Royal Mauian have remained as some of my most favorite memories. Writing about them was never really part of my plan but, again, because of what Mark said it just seemed like the right time to share my recollections.

Turtle Love

There did come a time when I got comfortable enough to go into the water on my own and snorkel – all the while wearing that yellow floater belt and flippers. My love affair with the sea turtles was like a calling. When we would arrive at the condo one of the first things to be taken care of was the rental of the snorkel gear. I had named one of the sea turtles “King Kamehameha” and was completely convinced that he was waiting with his bale, for me to arrive so he could swim around to greet me as I entered their world to respectfully and thoughtfully engage with them.

A routine and path of sorts was developed over the years. The reef isn’t gigantic but there are “markers” of sorts as you enter the waters from either side. Some taller rocky areas and then some “batches” of rocks/lava and then some more open spaces. The ocean is an incredibly powerful element and wave and tidal motion creates a never-ending and changing experience. Even when the water appears smooth there’s an ebb and flow to the movement being experienced by the body.

The “resident sea turtles” that occupy space at this reef are simply breathtaking. Part of the fun of the whole snorkeling affair was to explore that underwater world to see if I could discover where they were hanging out below the surface. The points of reference would become relevant as the experience unfolded. The unit we were staying in might be in line with a portion of the reef where one of the turtles was resting. They kind of bury themselves into the sand, sometimes almost underneath a rock shelf of sorts and suddenly as you’re watching and looking they start swimming up to the surface to take that breath of air and voila – there you are in the moment sharing space with this most incredible creature.

Sometimes one of their locations would be in line with one of the palm trees; or with a corner of the fence around the swimming pool. So, after a week or so of swimming out and around the reef area a familiarity with the underwater geography would develop which subsequently led to being able to “identify” turtle locations/hideouts.

I discovered very early on that I could not swim anywhere near as fast as a turtle – even with flippers – they “look” rather large, slow and clumsy but in truth they are incredibly graceful creatures and it seems to me as I’m writing all of this they embody Mark’s reference to the two movements of his presentation: (1) Knowing where we are and (2) Keeping what is true before us. I’m sure they are much wiser than we human-suits.

Aha … growing up!

As with our Covid Restrictions a few years ago, 3M is the same distance recommended to keep between a human-suited individual and a green sea turtle.

I had acquired a new zoom lens for my camera and while there to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary in 2014 I saw two individuals actually touching one of the turtles – I was more than slightly incensed and took a series of photos which I sent into the local paper. Have to say I was thrilled to be published with a view to perhaps raising awareness just a little.

2014 was the last year Don and I travelled to Hawaii together. Well, not quite, we did go back for his Ash Scattering Service in 2019 but of course that’s another story.

However, on the 2014 trip Don’s mobility had become compromised and he no longer went into the ocean. I DID continue to go and snorkel and had gathered my gear and stopped to chat and have a visit with him at the pool area before walking over to Kam II to enter one of my favorite approaches to the reef.

Following my usual path around and over different parts of the reef I was at one of my “marker points” trying to eyeball the line of sight that would lead me to one of the turtles. I think I was making an adjustment to my mask when I suddenly realized that I didn’t have that yellow floater belt on and OMG the instant and intense panic that hit almost took my breath away. Actually I think it DID take my breath away. And then something very magical happened… a voice gently and quietly spoke and said “well you silly child, look at you… you’ve been out here in this big old ocean for over 15 minutes without your little floater and you’re still floating!”

I wish there was a way to replay the feelings, sensations, thoughts, emotions that all came tumbling to the surface at the realization that I was there and didn’t need that yellow floater belt. And here’s where another one of Mark’s statements now fits like a glove. “Every moment is unrepeatable – it doesn’t happen again”

I suppose the rest of the story is kind of anti-climatic – except my excitement at having had what felt like a “growing up experience” while in my 3rd quarter was special beyond words. I swam into shore immediately. Literally ran to tell Don and then literally ran over to Auntie Snorkel’s to give them the belt and my news. They all laughed and laughed and congratulated me on the new discovery and a new world was opened up to me.

And…. Don didn’t even say “told you so”!