The Saline Canine begins on this "unseasonably warm" Pacific Northwest spring day, inspired by nothing other than a long walk on our favorite local beach--just the well-salted dog and me, both wishing the third in our trio of life was with us, but content enough to be out doing something worth remembering.
Perhaps it's the countdown to our new location and new life that has me pondering the finer points of the local "special places" and our life here of the last few years, or perhaps it's time to cash in on my promise to myself to write more that finally has me sitting down, shiny new laptop at hand, putting keystrokes to computer screen. I hope to funnel some of the stories I wish I had written into this blog, while being inspired by new experiences along the way.
So, why The Saline Canine? Well, Salty Dog seemed to already be in use, and alas, I am heading down the road to academia anyway, so I might as well practice. And, wouldn't you know, Merriam-Webster even offers the alternate pronunciation of saline, with the long I, meaning the blog has a nice ring as well--we wouldn't want a bad ring. More to the point though, I'm addicted to the smell of the ocean: the decaying seaweed, briny water, deep blue unknown, zillions of zooplankton in each bucketful of water, and sandy and rocky coasts where the human world intersects with the sea. Water of any sort is a good thing, but salty water is where it's at. Trout are good, salmon are delicious--it's because of all that briny goodness they consume at sea. Just ask a steelhead.
In my 32 years of life I have never lived far from the salt water. Okay, there were the 5 or so dark years just inland from the North Shore of Massachusetts, but beyond that, I've typically been just a walk away. You like what you know, I guess, and for me that's the ocean. Childhood spent tidepooling and beachcombing has stuck with me. It probably comes as no surprise then that my career of choice keeps me outside, in the marshes, bays, coastal and ocean waters where my natural curiosity for such can be channeled into something I'd like to think of as productivity. And while all the time I spend being productive might drive some to curl up on the couch with a good book, the thirst for the ocean usually has me swimming, diving, walking, or floating in the ocean or near it whenever I get the chance.
Unfortunately, my canine companion (pictured above in all her glory) has a much too literal thirst for the sea. She loves it! Of course, she loves to play in the water, fetch balls from the water, and occasionally even surf some waves, but in addition, she cannot get enough of licking and drinking the briny goodness. She is truly a Saline Canine. While the veterinary implications of her imbibing are not scientifically known, I can say from experience that too much of a good saline thing can be bad. It is unknown to me why the dog continually drinks up the ocean, but perhaps she is just personifying (caninefying?) my love for all things ocean. But like so many of her kind, her energy and enthusiasm is truly inspiring.
So, we begin here, after our epic beach walk along the shores of the Strait of Juan de Fuca--a grand way to spend a Sunday. I'm sure in a year I will long to be back on this beach, with its majestic views of the Olympic Mountains, Protection Island, and the Straits, and for now I will savor it while I can--just the Saline Canine and me.
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