It’s hard to not feel emotional watching the world as it fragments down, even if, thankfully, you may not be personally linked to any of the events. But seeing healthcare workers and patients be hit, regardless by who, intentionally or not, felt too close to home…

So I decided to seek refuge amongst cute marine mammals instead. Despite my water phobia, I was somehow able to walk through an aquarium of water creatures and be awed rather than scared. The sea lions waddled on the dock as their trainers fed them. Sea otters seem to have a great deal of fun doing underwater cartwheels and rubbing their face and belly. And there were two baby seals, cuter, and likely happier than many human children.

Thanks to these cute little (well, actually the sea lions are much bigger than me lol) creatures for bringing me joy and smiles on a gloomy, rainy day.