The story behind my name part 3 · 7:49am Jan 11th, 2019
Ok, onto the next visit.
April 13, 2000:
As stated before, after last time, I kinda developed a fear that they hated me. I know it sounds crazy, but the incident really hit me hard.
It was around this time, my previous stepdad offered to take me back there to take part in the dolphin interaction program. Something i had wanted to do since that first night. We all have to face our fears at some point. And as a wise man once said, "The bravest man is not the one who fears nothing, but the one willing to face what he fears most." (See who can recall who made that quote, as obsure as it is 
) So i decided to go for it.
To say I was nervous would be an understatement. The fact I was the only boy in the group didn't exactly help much. I kinda stuck out like a sore thumb. And yes, that includes the trainer and the dolphin, misty. If that name sounds familiar, it should be obvious why.
Well, the first thing we did wastake individual pictures with her. We'd sort of kneel down, she'd swim up, we'd put our arms around her and they'd take the picture. I still have a copy of the picture to this day. After they took the pic, I started rubbing her down. It was the closest i had ever been to a dolphin, so i wanted to make a good impression, you know? The odd thing is, she kinda stuck with me a bit. I may be reading too much into it, but it was this gesture that helped me conquer my fear. I like to think she could tell how nervous i was and wanted to help. Things went well from that point. Afterward, i went back to the rpp. Maybe misty had something to do with it, but they seemed to accept me again. But I may never know for sure.
I would see misty again, but that's a story for part 4, so see you in february!
