My father is a quiet man. Typically, the only things he likes to talk about are sports and food. I always wanted to have a closer relationship with him, but it was hard to relate. I have a short temper and a thin thread of patience especially when it comes to my dad. I adored him, but I wanted the father-daughter relationship you see on TV shows. I wanted it to be like Danny Tanner and Michelle on Full House.
That summer when we were in Mexico for our family vacation, all my father wanted to do was see whale sharks. I eagerly volunteered to go with him. I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to spend quality time with my dad, and bond over something interesting. When I boarded the tiny fishing boat, I had no idea that I was about to get way more than I bargained for.
It was hot. The kind of hot that makes your t-shirt stick to your back. The kind of hot that makes your eyes squint so hard you can’t even see. I felt a different kind of hot. The angry-hot you feel in your face. The kind of hot that starts in your stomach and boils up your throat. I was so mad at my dad. Everything he said and did annoyed me to no end. I was irritated when he would talk to me and I was irritated when he wouldn’t. My (unnecessary) temper tantrum was interrupted when we spotted whale sharks in the distance.
As we got closer, there were shark fins as far as I could see in every direction. It was the perfect spot to go snorkeling! I adjusted my flippers and jumped into the water without my dad. I don’t know if I did it because I was mad, if I wanted to prove something to him, or if it was just nerves, but I jumped in without a second thought.
The cool, salty water stung my skin upon impact. I put my head under water and all I could see were giant mouths the size of cars all around me. Huge, slimy bodies pushed their way past me with urgency. Thin, viscous tails whipped my legs from beneath the surface. I was terrified beyond belief. I wanted to get out of the water, but suddenly a rough hand grabbed mine and pulled me up. It was unmistakably my father’s rough hand. I looked at him wearing his goofy snorkel goggles and he had a smile that stretched across his whole face. Even his eyes were smiling. It was contagious, I couldn’t help but smile with him. We spent the next hour swimming in the deep ocean surrounded by magnificent creatures. With my hand in my father’s hand, I didn’t feel scared anymore. The whale sharks were gorgeous creatures. Their long bodies tripled the size of our boat. They were a beautiful dark blue color with electric white spots that could be seen a mile away. Their gaping mouths were searching for krill in a way similar to how whales eat. They moved with such grace and agility that it took my breath away.
Eventually, our time in the ocean came to an end. Our boat ride back to the shore was very different than the ride there. My dad’s lame jokes made me cry with laughter, our silence was different now too. It wasn’t the silence that made me feel unwanted or uncomfortable. It was the peaceful kind of silence that makes you appreciate the quiet times.
I glanced over the edge into the water and I couldn’t help but notice how dull it seemed compared to the ocean that filled my dad’s eyes.
Floating in the water with my dad, I have never felt smaller in my life. It was truly humbling to see such a massive creature look tiny in comparison to the ocean. It takes seeing something so impressive and incredible to truly realize how small we are and how insignificant our problems can be. That day I learned to appreciate the little things about him that originally drove me crazy because that's what makes my dad, my dad. He's quiet but hilarious. He's strict but loving. He's stubborn but kind. I wouldn't want him any other way. Thank you for being the best dad a girl could ask for!
