Because sometimes we need a pick me up. Today I had a tough time. Actually, the last two weeks have been pretty tough. At least I thought they were. And then I remembered seeing this video about an albatross and a tiger shark. The video below isn’t it, but it’s cut from the same footage (definitely find the full video if you can instead of this “dance club” cut version).

It was a nature documentary about young sea birds learning how to fly. Sharks visit this area at about this time, knowing that chicken dinners will be hurling themselves into the surf. And boy did they. One after another of these poor birds would take a running leap off of this small cliff and try to fly. Then, like a spy movie gone wrong, each one would fall into the water below, bob up and down for a few seconds trying to figure out their next step, and plunk away underwater in a pool of red and feathers. One after another they went under like a murderous basketball dunk contest. It was tragic.

Then this one bird comes on the scene. He takes a run, gets about a second and a half of air time… and falls into the water, just like everyone else. You can see he’s thinking, “Son of a luvin muther… Well, I guess I’d better try again.” And then a tiger shark shows up, no stealth or concern, just mouth agape, ready to chomp this frail little albatross body into pieces.

Instead of going with the shark’s plan (which clearly wasn’t well-thought-out), this little albatross starts slapping the shark’s face with its feathers and paddling out of the way, dodging it like a bull in a ring. I imagine the shark being quite stunned: kind of a what-the-hell-was-that moment.

The albatross, through with that nonsense, gets back to trying to take off. “Let’s see now, push, pedal, flap, and push…” but the tiger shark has returned, coming from behind, this time (a little more thought in it now). The bird is clearly pissed. “Hey! Can’t you see I’m trying to learn to fly here?!” This time it slaps, kicks, and bites at the shark’s nose, literally pulling itself out of the shark’s mouth before it closes. The shark dives away again, stunned. “What the what?”

Clearly still pissed, the albatross is ready to practice taking off again. “Anyway… push… pedal… flap… f&@#!” The tiger shark is back a third time, erupting up from beneath in a skillful vertical attack. There’s no where for the bird to go. Despite the impossibility of it, the little albatross fights anyway, slapping, biting, kicking, pushing, going for eyes. All of this in slow motion, fingers digging into my thighs, the albatross at any moment a hair’s width from being snagged and dragged under the surf.

But it wasn’t. Instead it f&@#ed that shark up. The shark swam away and left the bird alone, the bird looking ready to chase it for a moment.

The albatross was now alone and undisturbed by anyone. It took its time. Push… Pedal… Flap… And push, got its wings under itself, and flew away.

When I thought of that tough little albatross and then looked at what I was complaining about, I shut the heck up, and got on with what needed to be done.

Unless you’re dead, you can keep fighting.
-CG