Today is Sunday, June 9.  There are only 25 days until we celebrate the 237^th birthday of the US.  Do you have your fireworks yet?  Today is also the birthday of George Stephenson, Fred Waring and Johnny Depp.  In 1534 Jacques Cartier first sailed into the mouth of the St. Lawrence River; in 1869 Charles Elmer Hires sold his first root beer, in Philadelphia, and in 1969 Brian Jones quit the Rolling Stones.  Today is Senior Citizens Day in Oklahoma, Children’s Day in Massachusetts and Thursday will be the National Asparagus Festival in Shelby, Michigan.

Last week the lovely Elaine and I were invited to spend the weekend with friends at their place in Wildwood.  It was a great weekend.  We spent time on the beach, drove to Atlantic City, had some great food and drinks and just had a great time with our friends.  I do not know why, but every time we stay at their place, I wake up around 6 AM.  I get up, dress, go to the Wawa for coffee and go and sit on the beach to watch the sun come up.  That is something that never gets old.  I do it every morning we are there.  I just sit and watch the sun, the waves and the people.  I am always amazed at how many folks are out and about at that time of day.

Last Sunday morning, as I sat on the beach, I looked north and saw what I thought was a pile of sand.  As I looked at it, I began to wonder if it was just sand.  The shape made me think that maybe it was something more.  I was convinced there was more to it when I saw people walking along the beach stopping to look at it.  I found out later that it was a dead whale.  According to an article in the paper the next day, it was about 15 feet long and weighed over a ton.  

What I thought was interesting was the actions of the people that milled around.  Maybe it’s just me, but I can’t really think of anything that exciting about a dead whale.  A number of people kept squatting down near the head trying to make sure it was dead, I guess.  How they would know is beyond me.  Did they expect it to be lying there with its tongue hanging out, like you see in cartoons?  Maybe they were looking for the X’s on its eyes to show that it was done for.  Several groups posed for pictures.  “Here we are on the boardwalk in Wildwood, here is a shot of the concrete ship in Cape May and here we are standing by a dead whale on the beach.”  Great vacation memories.

After some time, a police truck pulled up next to the whale.  They immediately put out traffic cones – two at the head and two at the tail.  I guess they were concerned that the whale would try to drive away.  Or maybe they were afraid that people driving along the beach (which they are not allowed to do) might not see a 15 foot long whale and run into it.  I’m guessing that if you do not see the whale, it’s a good bet you are going to miss the cones, too.  

As I said, I found out later that it was a dead whale.  I was informed by a woman who was out walking her dog and told me because I was the first person she came to after leaving the scene.  She seemed very excited by the whole thing.  I was hoping someone would come by so I could find out what was going on.  It was about 5 or 6 blocks up from where I was and I was not about to walk all the way up there.  I was ensconced in my chair, with the rather chilly wind at my back and I was comfortable.  Also, I tend to be lazy and just did not feel like getting up, picking up my chair and walking there.

I’m sorry that I was not able to stay and watch the show when they came to get it.  I would have loved to see how they got that massive bulk of dead fish off the beach.  I knew the two cops that had pulled up were not going to do it by themselves.  Aside from the fact that it was big, they did not have the room in their pick-up for it.  A town public works truck came by.  They slowed down, but drove on.  I guess collecting whale carcasses is not in their job description.  I imagine they wanted to get it off the beach before it got too crowded with people.  Aside from the complications of trying to get the thing off a crowded beach, I suspect it would be something of a downer for families.  “Don’t go out too far in the water, sweetie, and stay away from the dead whale.”

But enough about whales.  I know you have been reading this just to get to this week’s fact, so here it is:

Turtles can breathe through their butts.  I know some people who can, too, but only because that is where their heads are.  Have a lovely week and be sure to eat asparagus on Thursday.