Chicken Soup for the Ocean Lover's Soul

  Chicken Soup for the Ocean Lover’s Soul

  CHICKEN SOUP

  FOR THE

  OCEAN LOVER’S

  SOUL

  Amazing Sea Stories and Wyland

  Artwork to Open the Heart and

  Rekindle the Spirit

  Jack Canfield

  Mark Victor Hansen

  Wyland

  with Steve Creech

  Health Communications, Inc.

  Deerfield Beach, Florida

  www.hcibooks.com

  www.chickensoup.com

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

  Chicken soup for the ocean lover’s soul : amazing sea stories and Wyland artwork to open the heart and rekindle the spirit / [compiled by] Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Wyland, Steve Creech.

  p. cm.

  eISBN-13: 978-0-7573-9400-3

  eISBN-10: 0-7573-9400-0

  1. Marine animals—Anecdotes. 2. Human-animal relationships—Anecdotes. 3. Ocean—Psychological aspects. I. Canfield, Jack date. II. Hansen, Mark Victor. III. Wyland, date. IV. Steve Creech, date.

  QL121.C45 2003

  508.3162—dc21

  2003051125

  © 2003 Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen

  All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the written permission of the publisher.

  HCI, its Logos and Marks are trademarks of Health Communications, Inc.

  Publisher: Health Communications, Inc.

  3201 S.W. 15th Street

  Deerfield Beach, FL 33442-8190

  R-11-06

  Original paintings on cover and insides by Wyland ©2003

  Cover design by Larissa Hise Henoch

  Inside formatting by Dawn Von Strolley Grove

  We dedicate this book

  to ocean lovers everywhere . . .

  To our parents who taught us lessons of life among

  the beaches, tide pools and rolling waves . . .

  To the scientists who have guided us . . .

  And, finally, to the writers, poets and

  artists who remind us that as much

  as we know, the sea will always remain,

  first and foremost, a place of

  infinite beauty and mystery.

  Warm Tropical Paradise

  Original painting by Wyland © 2003.

  Contents

  Acknowledgments

  Introduction

  Share with Us

  1. LIVING IN HARMONY

  Raising Cecily Nan Lincoln

  Surrogate Mom and Pup Roxayne Spruance and Michelle Staedler

  Hooked on Mahogany Mike Lipstock

  Picasso of the Sea Wyland

  The Blind Diver Joycebelle Edelbrock

  In Harmony Martha Gusukuma-Donnenfield

  Encounter with a Sperm Whale Gaie Alling

  Swimming Surprise Joseph Hallstein

  If You Could Touch a Whale Paula McDonald

  Back to Sea . . . the Story of J. J. Jack Hanna

  Keiko the Whale Wyland

  Angus Florian Graner

  Sound Behavior Abby Murray

  2. THE POWER TO HEAL

  Anna’s Miracle Linda Schnecker Erb

  Manatee Tranquility Paul Dragon as told to Steve Creech

  The Art of Healing Wyland

  A Signal Is Worth a Thousand Words Linda Schnecker Erb

  The Fishermen Stephen Byrne

  A Day on the New Hampshire Shore Nicole-René Rivette

  Guided Tour Nathan S. Woods

  A Forever Ocean View Liz Zuercher

  3. CELEBRATING THE BOND

  Crab Lessons Jennifer Zambri-Dickerson

  Ebb and Flow Eve Eschner Hogan

  The Friendly Isle Tal Aviezer with Jason Cocovinis

  Dream Vacation Jennifer Lowry

  Letters Michael Geers

  Goddess Danette Rivera

  The Guide Wyland

  Octopus’s Garden Eve Eschner Hogan

  I Found a Tiny Starfish Dayle Ann Dodds

  After the Beach Nancy V. Bennett

  Sea Dog Jon L. Rishi

  What Do You See? Gary Riedel

  4. OCEAN WISDOM

  A Lesson from the Sea Walker Meade

  A Prayer for the Ocean Wyland

  The Perfect Shell Jennifer Zambri-Dickerson

  The Day at the Beach Arthur Gordon

  Octopus Odyssey Mike Lipstock

  The Sea and the Wind That Blows E. B. White

  The Driftwood Queen Anne Carter

  A Sign of Love Warren Iliff

  Sand Castles Max Lucado

  Sea of Curiosity Dr. Sylvia A. Earle

  5. FRONTIERS OF THE SEA

  Who’s Watching Who? Joe Moran

  The Jonah Factor Mark Conlin

  Strange Discovery Steve Creech

  Close Encounter of the Squid Kind Mark Conlin

  Finding His Way Home Clive Cussler

  Eyes in the Dark Thor Heyerdahl

  The Specialist Dr. Sylvia A. Earle

  Fred’s Big Adventure Mark Conlin

  6. SAILING SPIRITS

  Last One Standing Phil Lansing

  Geriatric Genocide Warren Miller

  A Shot at the Title Jim Kravets

  Father Time Matt Walker

  Surfer Mark Twain

  Two Battleships Maurice Ricketts

  The Bond Between a Captain and His Ship Vincent Gaddis

  Sailsmanship! Bruce Nash and Allan Zullo

  First Homecoming Leslie Smith

  7. ON COURAGE AND ADVENTURE

  Lost in the Atlantic Deborah Morris

  One Hundred and One Atlantic Nights Jan Meek with Daniel Byles

  as told to Janet Matthews

  A Miracle Between Sea and Land Alan Ebert

  Pedaling over the Atlantic Jamie Kageleiry

  Fear of the Unknown Maggie Stapp-Hempen

  Exploring the Sunken Wreck Dr. Robert D. Ballard

  Using His Teeth Lester David

  8. SAVING THE SEA

  This Magic Moment Jennifer Anderson

  A New Dawn for Whaling in Taiji Wyland

  Fighting for Their Lives Maris Sidenstecker

  Everything I Needed to Know About the Ocean

  I Learned in the Second Grade Wyland

  Do You Hear It? Tiffany Pope

  Life Imitates Art Wyland

  More Chicken Soup?

  The Wyland Foundation and Wyland Ocean Challenge

  Who Is Jack Canfield?

  Who Is Mark Victor Hansen?

  Who Is Wyland?

  Who Is Steve Creech?

  Contributors

  Permissions

  Acknowledgments

  This book would never have come to be without the input of thousands of ocean lovers from as far away as New Zealand, Ireland, Iceland, Mexico, Norway, Canada, England, South Africa, Germany and Australia. It seemed as we were developing this book that ocean lovers knew neither political nor geographic boundaries, not even in the heartland of America, and flooded us with marvelous stories of experiences with sea life and family seaside vacations.

  But beyond those who submitted such incredible stories, there are many, many more people to be thanked, without whom the completion of Chicken Soup for the Ocean Lover’s Soul would never have occurred.

  To Jacques Cousteau, who inspired the career of Wyland and a whole generation of people to care about ocean conservation.

  To ocean icons like Dr. Sylvia Earle, Dr. Bob Ballard, Dr. Roger Payne, Ll
oyd Bridges, Sir Peter Blake, Bob Hunter and many others who have dedicated their lives to preserving the world’s oceans. They are certainly among the more visible advocates for ocean awareness, but many more conservation organizations support them. We hope you will lend your support by giving generously to their campaigns.

  We would like to thank the Wyland Foundation for bridging the worlds of art and science, and working with the Scripps Institution of Oceanography and the Birch Aquarium on a world-class, clean-water curriculum to be presented to 60 million students in the coming year. To the board of directors of the Wyland Foundation for ten great years and the many Wyland Foundation members who give unselfishly of their time and energy to help with its programs.

  Wyland would like to personally express his great debt to the many scientists who have worked with him over the years, instilling in him a passion for sharing his message of ocean conservation and art with the world.

  To Mark Victor Hansen, Jack Canfield, Peter Vegso and the entire family at Chicken Soup for the Soul Enterprises and Health Communications (HCI). These two fine organizations are to be truly commended for giving such a beautiful gift to the world as the series of Chicken Soup for the Soul books.

  Big thanks to Angela Needham for spearheading this project from the very beginning. Even after six years, Angela always had the faith to see this project completed.

  To Steve Creech, Wyland’s cowriter and publicist, who shaped and formed the book with the support of the dedicated staff at Wyland World Headquarters. Steve’s adventures collecting stories took him as far away as Valdez, Alaska.

  To the entire Wyland family: Wyland’s parents, Darlene and Robert, and his brothers, Steve, Bill and Tom.

  To Darcy Pinon, Julie Edwards and Liz Zuercher—each gave extensive amounts of their personal time to assist with editing, compiling and rereading stories.

  Thanks to Virginia Lenac for her tireless support and efforts. Virginia always went the extra mile, always with a smile, to keep this book organized and on track.

  To the entire Wyland design team, including Jonathan Dupree, Gregg Hamby, Nicole Hill, Karla Kipp, Kathy Gordon and Gino Beltran. They deserve a special nod of appreciation for ensuring that the look and feel of this book met the high standards of Chicken Soup for the Soul Enterprises and HCI.

  To Julie Guerrini, who read and read and read, providing valuable insight about many of the stories in this book while never complaining, even when yet another batch of stories was given to her “just to check out.”

  Thanks to all the people who evaluated, commented upon and helped us improve our story selection. The panel of readers included: Sheri Arnett, Suzanne Beukema, Marie Clark, Grace Compton, Janet Creech, Robin Davis, Terrie Druehl, Sherry Eaton, Tammy Eaton, Jeanice Glenn, Shannon Glenn, Dana and Jerry Gonzales, Gretchen Hausman, Debby Helm, Alice Jensen, Diane Johnson, Joan Kretchman, Kirstyn Molina, Shirley Morrison, David Norcross, Barbara O’Neill, Jennifer Paul, Sue Paul, Sue Pinkham, Eartha M. Reed, Pam Richmond, Jennifer Scardino, Stan Stern, Lisa Trampe and Cathy Wood.

  To the drive of Jack Canfield and Patty Aubery to push this book through to its completion.

  And, of course, thank you to the folks at HCI, including Lisa Drucker, Susan Heim and the entire team of editors, publicist Kim Weiss, and the terrific sales teams headed by Terry Burke and Tom Sand.

  We would also like to acknowledge and express our appreciation to the authors of the more than 3,000 stories that we received to make this book possible.

  And, last but not least, we would like to thank you for purchasing Chicken Soup for the Ocean Lover’s Soul. It has been a labor of love, more than six years in the making as we’ve searched the planet to find stories that touch the heart and ignite the ever-growing passion for preservation of our oceans and the wonderful life within. Best fishes!

  The Wyland Foundation would like to acknowledge the following organizations for their contributions to ocean conservation. We hope you’ll support their fine work.

  American Oceans Campaign

  American Society for the Prevention of

  Cruelty to Animals

  Animal Planet

  Animal Protection Institute

  Animal Welfare Institute

  Birch Aquarium at Scripps

  Cabrillo Marine Aquarium

  California Marine Mammal Center

  Caribbean Conservation Corporation

  Center for Action Endangered Species

  Center for Coastal Studies

  Center for Environmental Education

  Center for Marine Conservation

  Center for Whale Studies

  Citizens for a Better Environment

  Clean Islands International

  Clean Water Action

  Coastal Alliance

  Coastal American Foundation

  Coastal Conservation Association

  Coastal Ecology Learning Program

  Coastal Society

  Conservation International Foundation

  Coral

  Cousteau Society

  Cultural Survival

  Defenders of Wildlife

  Discovery Channel

  Dolphin Research Center

  Earth Day Resources

  Earth Trust

  EarthCare Network

  Earthsave International

  Environmental Defense Fund

  Florida Oceanographic Society

  Friends of Bermuda Aquarium, Ltd.

  Friends of the Earth

  Friends of the Sea

  Friends of the Sea Lion

  Friends of the Sea Otter

  Fund for Animals

  Great Whales Foundation

  Greenpeace Foundation

  Greenpeace U.S.A.

  Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute

  Hubbs Sea World Research Institute

  Human Dolphin Foundation

  The Humane Society

  Institute for Earth Education

  International Fund for Animal Welfare

  International Rivers Network

  Island Resources Foundation

  Jane Goodall Institute for Wildlife Research,

  Education and Conservation

  The JASON Project

  Kids for a Clean Environment

  Kids for Saving Earth

  Marine Environmental Research Institute

  Marine Life Preservation Society

  Marine Mammal Center

  Marine Mammal Fund

  Marine Mammal News

  Marine Mammal Stranding Center

  Maui Whalewatchers

  Mote Marine Laboratory

  Mystic Aquarium

  National Audubon Society

  National Geographic Society

  National Marine Institute

  National Marine Life Center

  National Marine Sanctuary

  National Save the Sea Turtle Foundation

  National Wildlife Federation

  Natural Resources Defense Council

  Nature Conservancy

  The Ocean Conservancy

  Ocean Institute

  Ocean Research & Educational Society

  Ocean Society

  Ocean Watch Foundation

  Oceanic Society

  Oceanworks

  Orcalab

  Pacific Marine Research

  Reef Ball Foundation

  Reef Environmental Education Foundation

  Reef Relief

  Restore America’s Estuaries

  Save Our Seas

  Save the Manatee Club

  Save the Whales

  School Power

  Scripps Institution of Oceanography

  The Sea Turtle Center

  Seacoast Science Center

  Sierra Club

  Society for Marine Mammalogy

  Surfrider Foundation

  United Nations Environment Programme

  W. Quoddy Marine Research Center

  Waikoloa Marine Life Fund

  Wetlands In
stitute

  Whale Adoption Project

  Whale Center

  Whale Conservation Institute

  Whale Museum

  Whale Protection Fund

  Whale Research and Conservation Fund

  WildAid

  Wilderness Society

  Windows on Our Waters

  Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

  World Wildlife Fund

  Worldwatch Institute

  Wyland Foundation

  Introduction

  All of us, at one time or another, find ourselves drawn to the sea. For some, it’s a place for reflection or romance. For others, it’s the thrill of watching surf crash against a sandy white beach or studying the kaleidoscope of life among a tropical coral reef. This ability of the ocean to change our lives, to inspire and fascinate us, is what led us to create Chicken Soup for the Ocean Lover’s Soul, a collection of stories from around the world that celebrate the magic of our ocean planet.

  I first embraced the ocean on a family vacation to Southern California many years ago. I was only fourteen years old and experiencing the cool waters of the Pacific for the first time. Amazingly, as I looked out across the endless expanse, lost in its sheer size, two fifty-foot gray whales broke the surface and spouted right before my eyes.

  After that encounter I dedicated myself to the preservation of these gentle giants and the oceans they needed for survival. I truly believe that when you see a whale you become a better human being. Over the years, I have talked with many people who have told me of encounters with marine mammals, and they all have experienced similar transformations.

  I had the honor of meeting Mark Victor Hansen at one of my gallery shows in Kona on the big island of Hawaii. We connected immediately as I felt Mark’s commitment with Jack Canfield not only to create a fantastic book filled with wonderful stories of the ocean, but also their commitment to the conservation of this precious resource. As we continued to discuss the possibility of creating this unique book, it became clear to us that the oceans have been the source of many inspirational stories over the years.

  Now, after diving with these two ocean lovers, we are ready to share these uplifting, engaging and, above all, true stories from people such as renowned wildlife expert and television personality Jack Hanna, ocean researcher Dr. Sylvia Earle, writer Clive Cussler and many others. This beautiful book and the series of marine life paintings it contains reflect the rare beauty of the sea for the ocean lover’s soul.

  A portion of all proceeds from Chicken Soup for the Ocean Lover’s Soul will go the Wyland Foundation, which has partnered with the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California, San Diego, to create a free, nationwide marine life art and science educational program for every school in the nation. This program is designed to teach children everywhere about the importance of our marine resources. Your purchase of this book will help make this program a great success.