When I was a teenager, I never thought about living to 53 much less being married for 30 years. Here it is though, June of 2016 and Janet and I have been married for 30 years. In 2010 we celebrated our 25th a year early by going to London and Paris. Last year, we went to New York and saw two Broadway shows. I don’t always do bigger and better, but this year I wanted to do something different. We live in New England, by the ocean so why not something with a nautical theme. It turns out that there are whale watching tours that depart daily from several ports along the coast. I chose the New England aquarium whale watching experience that leaves from the long pier in Boston. We found a beautiful room at the Park Plaza hotel in Boston and planned for a fabulous weekend.

I can’t begin to describe the experience of seeing these magnificent creatures as they breach the surface of the water to expel their breath and take in new air. It was amazing to say the least. Our boat took us to the tip of the cape, near Provincetown. On our journey we saw five pilot whales and two humpbacks. The pilot whales could easily be mistaken for dolphins due to their small size. But the humpbacks were definitely whales. The guide informed us that they had been circling their dinner under the surface and would arise with their mouths wide open to capture their prey. It happened just as she’d described. Truly this was not only spectacular, but also one of the most spiritual experiences I’ve ever encountered. Seeing these marvelous creatures in their ocean habitat made me marvel at the wonders of the world in which we live. I have to go back some time. Both of us felt this was the perfect way to celebrate thirty years of spending our lives together.

“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” – Helen Keller