Dolphins, Pelicans, and Seagulls...Oh My!

A few weeks ago Utah Sisters were in town for a visit.  Because they live far, far, far, far away from the beach, they thought it would be a splendid idea to make a trip to the Pacific Ocean and enjoy the waves and the sand.  It was cold and somewhat foggy when we arrived but we enjoyed watching the seagulls and pelicans fishing for lunch and eventually saw a small pod of dolphins frolicking in the waves. 

Not an actual photograph I took--but wouldn't it be cool if I did? 

 Probably the funniest part of the day was my fear of all the birds flying overhead.  

This is only a SMALL number of the birds we saw!

The following is a reenactment of a conversation between my Utah Sisters, my Mom, and myself:

Good times at the beach!

"There are hundreds of birds here--maybe thousands of birds--and I'm nervous that they may leave a little present in my hair," I said.

"Loralee, there are NOT thousands of birds here," said my Mom.

"OK, maybe not thousands but certainly hundreds and they keep flying overhead."

Karen butted in, "You are worried about a bird pooping in your hair?"

"Yes," I replied, "It's happened before and it's not pleasant."

Barbara who had been down at the seashore dipping her feet in the ocean and was not privy to any of the earlier conversation then joined us.  She sat down in her lawn chair and noticed the hundreds (maybe thousands of birds flying overhead.)

"Boy, all these birds make me nervous!" Barbara exclaimed.  "I'm afraid they're going to poop on my head."

Karen and my mom burst out laughing!  "What is it with my older sisters and their irrational fear of birds?" Karen shouted.

"Hey, it's happened before," Barbara declared.  "Yeah, it's happened to me, also," I cut in.

Grandma replied, "The birds aren't flying over our heads.  This is a no-fly zone." 

"I don't know," I replied.  "They seem to be getting pretty close."

Barbara said, "I've got an umbrella in my car.  Maybe I should get it?"

Aunt Karen jumped in, "Actually, I have an umbrella in this bag.  As I was getting ready for my trip, I thought maybe I should unpack it but then the thought came, nah, you might need it.  Here, you can use it!"

Gratefully, I unfolded the umbrella and held it over our heads.  Ten minutes passed.  Fifteen minutes passed.  Aunt Karen and Grandma continued to mock us for our fear of birds and their not so delightful gifts.  Suddenly, I said:

Karen, Barbara, and I--and the trusty umbrella!

"I heard a plop!" 

Barbara exclaimed, "I heard a plop, also!"  

I lowered the umbrella and the ugliest color green nastiness was on the umbrella!  Barbara and I felt vindicated by the umbrella's protection and Karen was patting herself on the back for listening to the prompting she received to take her umbrella to sunny and hot California where she prevented her older sisters from being traumatized once again!

The end.