Routine

It’s gotten to be a thing now—not boring at all but routine—where a sea lion or a seal —or several of each— bob up like corks in the close waves alongside us on our morning beach walks. Spyhopping. This morning, a sea otter joined the crew. I try not to get too worked up about it. I mean, it’s only large marine mammals accompanying us along the tideline, a dozen yards away in the closest breakers, and if we bark they’re happy to sometimes bark back. If we play a game of rushing this way, that way on the sand, they’ll spyhop higher, curiouser and curiouser. Nothing to write home about—it’s perfectly routine.