Dolphin, Dolphin, Dolphin.

When I was little Uncle Richard sat at our table and told a story that has come to be known as the "Dolphin, Dolphin, Dolphin Story." He retold it many times, in many settings. I remember him telling it at the dinner table at Mamaw's house several times. When I would bring friends home for sleepovers, or from MSMS, college, or even when I moved away, I would ask Uncle Richard to tell the story. He always obliged. When Dana was at Florida State, she pledged Tri Delta, and the mascot for them was the dolphin, which made it even more special! It is short, and very sweet.
On one of Uncle Richard's adventures, he decided to learn to scuba dive, and fell in love with it. (I assume that he began diving around the time, or possibly just before Jaws came out.) On one dive trip he recalled how he was enjoying swimming along with his dive buddy, looking at the fish in the reef, being amazed at the coral and colors and being very at peace. They had practiced their dive signs and were ready for anything. THEN, he said, we swam over this huge dark abyss. In Uncle Richard's mind, there was a HUGE shark, or maybe a bunch of sharks, that lived just past where he could see, in the darkness. He was afraid. He told us that he just knew he was using up all the oxygen in the tank, because he was breathing really fast and there was a constant column of bubbles coming from his respirator, and sharks can smell fear! He said that he wasn't sure when or where he heard it, but he remembered hearing that a dolphin could kick a shark's ass with no problem, AND that you could call them telepathically! He quickly started telepathically calling DOLPHIN, DOLPHIN, DOLPHIN as he swam back to the boat. He never saw a shark, but he was sure that if there were any, the dolphins were protecting him while he swam back to the boat.
Each time I go to the beach, I try to telepathically (and with silly noises too) call the dolphins. I have been fortunate enough to pat dolphins a few times in my life, and they are amazing animals. When Uncle Richard was ill and I was between trips home and feeling sad, Robert and I would go to the beach and sit on the sand and call the dolphins. They would always come! I would call Uncle Richard on the phone and tell him about my day. It would make him so happy. It was like he was there with me and sent the dolphins.
On October 11th, as I was working, I decided that I wanted to go to Treasure Island and watch the sunset on the beach in front of the beach house where Robert and I got married 3 years ago to the day. It was a spur of the moment plan, and caught Robert a little off guard. Uncle Richard didn't come to the wedding, instead, he stayed at home and watched over the dogs so Mama and Daddy could come for a while. We ate dinner at Caddy's and walked to the beach house. We sat there and talked. I mentioned how awesome it would be if we saw dolphins, but it was getting to be dusk, and not likely. I was joking saying that maybe they will come if I say "Cacaww! Cacaww!" Just before we decided to leave, I saw something just behind a nice size wave just off the beach. It was a pod of dolphins!!! I was so excited!!! It was too dark for my cell phone camera to catch but we saw them!!! Uncle Richard sent them!! I just know he did!! I hope that he sends dolphins to visit us on our upcoming cruise! I know he will!!! Cacawww! Cacawww!!
I love and miss you my protector and dolphin caller!

Shannon Outlaw-Kimsey, RN
10/29/2011