Discovery World Milwaukee and the Denis Sullivan

It was built just before we moved to Washington DC. Discovery World is an aquarium of sorts, but also a learning lab for Great Lakes everything. And since we usually visit in July over the holiday, downtown lakefront Milwaukee is terribly congested with fireworks, Summerfest, and holiday travelers. Since we're visiting in August, we have more freedom to drive downtown to a few of our old stomping grounds. After going to lunch at Elsa's with our neighbors/hosts and a colleague of mine who now works at Marquette, we went to Discovery World. It was delightful watching all the fish. Growing up in Florida, I'm used to certain creatures. And since we haven't been near an aquarium for years, it was a treat. I always used to watch for the schooner/ tall ship Denis Sullivan while it was being built and as it sailed back and forth in Lake Michigan. It was just coming back from a trip and I finally saw it close up. My Dad loved the water and ships, so every time we are near a place like this I think of him. He was actually stationed in Milwaukee and Sheboygan when he was in the Coast Guard all those years ago. Anyway, it was a fun afternoon. It's really different to visit a town you lived in thirty years. Somehow the city looks so nice - but it's summer - and that makes a lot of difference. But the people we know here are simply wonderful. 

In Memory of Moby Dick

I have written about Moby Dick several times in my blog over the last three years. He was a tiny little Betta Fish that captured our hearts as soon as we got him. Whenever we went away, we made sure someone would be here to feed him, and later on transferred him to a smaller bowl so he could be carried over to our grandson's house to sit on their kitchen table and be entertained. He was constantly looking for our attention and danced whenever you waved at him from across the room. He looked stunning in the sunlight. His routine became our routine...It's been a week since we unexpectedly lost him and it has taken me this long to write about it. I keep looking in the corner of the room and there is nothing there. We've had two dogs and a Betta fish before Moby. It just doesn't get any easier anytime we lose one. Someone wrote this to me last week: "each and every precious creature has their own personality....we love them so. Moby Dick is making a big splash in fish Heaven this week. I can imagine the beautiful Betta swimming free in the Eternal flow...I am with you from the heart,"