逆光

A year ago I went through one of the most difficult times in my life. I had lost my family and my business all within a month. The heartache was 1)numbing.

I decided to go to Mexico and see if I could renew my perspective and outlook on life. To say I arrived in Mexico with a heavy heart is an 2)understatement. I booked a hotel on the 3)Baja choosing one of the less populated areas for tourists.

It was in late February which also happens to be when the grey whales swim down to have their babies. I decided that I 4)may as well do something other than sit in the sun and feel sorry for myself， so I booked a day trip to see the whales. I was not prepared for what happened.

On arrival at the 5)marina， we were 6)chaperoned into little motor boats. I have seen pictures of people out whale watching and at least they had boats larger than the whales. Not here. Each boat seated 6 people and off we went in search of whales.

We soon saw a couple of 7)water spouts which our guide said were whales. The captain of our boat took off in that direction. Soon there were a number of grey whales swimming close enough to get a look and some pictures. Our guide alerted us to a huge spot moving closer to the boat. We were a little 8)apprehensive because these whales were at least twice as long as our boat.

To my utter amazement， all of a sudden one surfaced right in front of my face. It had swum under the boat and came up on my side. I thought I was imagining that it took a very good look at me.

Well， let me tell you， that was some sight. Everyone was trying to take pictures of her

under the water before she swam away. Within a few minutes she was back. Once again surfacing right beside me. Once again， she looked me right in the eye.

The next time I was ready for her. She surfaced in front of my eyes and I reached out to touch her. She stayed on top of the water long enough for me to rub her beautiful 9)barnacle covered， scarred head and 10)snout. She did that twice. Incredible.

Everyone was busy taking pictures while I got soaked. I didn’t care. It was a miraculous feeling. She swam away and the captain 11)steered the boat toward other whales we could see in the distance.

Then the guide yelled again that two were coming close to the boat. There was my newfound friend with her baby. It was unbelievable to see how she 12)nudged her baby toward our boat. She was bringing her baby to meet me! Before long， I was within 5 feet of the most beautiful baby whale you can imagine. The mother swam just on the other side of her and after I had long enough to

13)absorb what I was seeing， she guided her baby away from the boat and out into the waters.

That was the last we saw of her. On the bus trip back everyone was cheerfully talking about the experience and my “14)bonding.” The guide told us that in 18 years of conducting tours to see whales， only once before had they witnessed a whale allowing someone to touch them.

Why did this happen? I have no explanation why she chose me for the privilege. Maybe the mother whale sensed my sadness. It was a humbling experience. She helped me to see the light even though I was in a very dark place. To describe it as a religious experience is the best I can do. It brings tears to my eyes when I remember the day I came back from the 15)pit of desperation and bonded with that whale.

I appreciated the obstacles that mother whale had to overcome on her long journey to the place she would have her baby. That magical encounter paved the way for me to put life back into perspective and I came home a much wiser person.

That huge beautiful creature made me understand， that despite the obstacles life puts in your way， there is always an opportunity for a new beginning. You must never give up.

一年前，我經歷了人生中一段最艱難的時期。一個月之內，我失去了我的家庭和工作。我痛徹心扉，整個人都麻木了。

我決定去墨西哥走走，想看看自己能否重燃對生活的信心和憧憬。我懷著沉重的心情來到了墨西哥——這樣描述我的心情算是有些輕描淡寫。我在巴賈半島的一家旅館訂了房間，選擇到一個較少游客的地方去。

當時是二月末，恰好也是灰鯨順流而下去產子的時節。我打定主意，最好做些事情而不是坐在太陽底下自怨自艾，于是我參加了一個觀鯨一日游。后來發生的事情出乎我的意料。

來到碼頭，我們被護送著上了幾艘小汽艇。我曾經見過人們出海觀鯨的照片。他們乘坐的船只起碼比鯨要大。這里的情況不一樣。每艘小汽艇上坐著6個人，我們開始出海尋鯨。

不久，我們看到了幾束噴柱，導游說那正是鯨在活動。我們的艇長馬上將艇開向那個方向。很快，就有多頭灰鯨在我們汽艇附近游動，供我們觀賞和拍照。導游提醒我們注意有個巨大的斑點正在靠近我們的汽艇。我們不由得有些擔心，因為這些鯨的身體長度至少是我們汽艇的兩倍。

讓我大吃一驚的是，突然有一頭鯨就在我的眼前冒出水面。它之前在艇下游動，這時出現在我的身旁。我猜想，它早就在仔細地關注我了。

嗯，告訴你們吧，那情景的確挺壯觀的。艇上的每個人都試圖在她游走之前拍下她在水中的照片。幾分鐘過后，她回來了，就在我的旁邊再一次浮出水面。……