The year was 1992. I was a gangly 11 year old girl determined to become a marine mammal biologist and about to embark on quite an adventure. See, at that age I wanted nothing more than to see a real, live whale or dolphin. For a girl who grew up in the heart of the U.S., this is not an easy task. So for Christmas of 1991 my parents broke the news to me that I would be joining them for a trip to Hawaii the following month. I was ecstatic! That month may have been the longest of my life, but I knew the experiences that were in store would be worth the wait.
Hawaii was amazing, even for an 11 year old, but one experience sticks in my mind more than any other. It was the day I got to see a real humpback whale. We had been on a drive around the Big Island since early morning and were in the last leg of our journey. We were headed to South Point; the southernmost tip in the United States. When we reached the end of the path we got out of our rental car to watch the sun setting over the western horizon. It glimmered off of the water like thousands of tiny diamonds. I can still see all of the magnificent colors, rich beyond belief. The waves crashed on the sheer rock cliffs that lay below where we stood. And then I saw it. At first my head did not believe what my eyes were observing. It was a beautiful humpback whale breaching not far of the coast. The arch of its back as it jumped out of the water contrasted against a backdrop of dreamlike proportions. It was just as I had gazed upon in innumerable paintings, my many picture books, and even in my own drawings of this magnificent animal. The whole thing was surreal and absolutely magical. Every detail came together to create an astonishing experience for those of us that were blessed enough to witness it.
Details. These are what separated this and every other experience from “ho-hum” to unforgettable. Make this year’s Holiday Party unforgettable by holding it at the Holiday Inn Downtown Des Moines at Mercy Campus. Every detail will be in place to ensure that your experience is absolutely magical.
Photo courtesy of Flickr.com
