May 21: I’m so thrilled to have visited the New England Aquarium today. It’s a bit odd to come to Boston, a place steeped in so much American history, to see an Octopus, but ever since reading The Soul of an Octopus by naturalist Sy Montgomery this is what I’ve wanted. The staff, volunteers and marine life of the New England aquarium are prominently featured in this fascinating and heart warming book about the consciousness of marine life. And it is where the author’s namesake Octopus resides.
We arrived at the aquarium early and immediately headed to the Octopus exhibit on the third floor to observe Sy. Not only did we want to see her up close, unobstructed by others, we hoped for a glimpse of what we’d recently read about, the eggs that only last week Sy started laying. All of us had read the book and were discussing some of what we could remember when a volunteer arrived to help us to fill in the blanks. She was knowledgeable and kind and stood with us as if it was the only thing she had on her agenda for the day. The sound of penguins from the first floor open air exhibit drifted up to us as we talked quietly in front of the exhibit.
For the longest time Sy huddled in a corner protecting her eggs. But just as we were getting ready to walk away she came out from hiding and showed us her magnificent self. 
I am in awe of her intelligence, curiousity and physical being. To know what an Octopus is capable of you must read the book. And that is what I’m doing on this trip, reading it a second time.
I’m so grateful for this visit.
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