As most of you know, the Butcher and I just returned form a respite in Mexico. If you notice, there were no pictures sent while we were in 
Mexico. There are 2 reasons for this. First, I have an insurance background, you don’t advertise that you are out-of-town, and you don’t rub it in when you are basking in 85 degree temperatures and your friends are barely surviving in sub-zero temperatures. That said, we had a wonderful time and are back rested and raring to go.
The last night we were in Puerto Vallarta the Butcher and I were on the beach waiting for sunset. We saw a young couple looking at something on the sand near the ocean. I told the Butcher we needed to go investigate. As we got closer we saw this young couple looking at a blowfish on the beach. The blowfish was barely breathing. Apparently, the young man had picked up the blowfish by the tail and thrown him back in the ocean. The blowfish was carried back to shore. The young man said he didn’t want to pick up the fish because of the spines sticking out. I didn’t blame him; However, I was determined that this blowfish was not dying on my watch, the last night we were in Mexico. I went into action. First I looked for a way to pick up the fish without touching the spines. The only way I could see to do this was by scooping sand under the fish. I did this and walked into the ocean. I think I need to explain at this point that my idea of going into the ocean is to barely get my toes wet. I will occasionally go ankle-deep to get a seashell I can see underwater. I walked up to my thighs and threw the fish out. I came back and waited. I 
saw the blowfish coming back into shore. I again scooped and threw. This happened 3 times. As I was waiting for the blowfish to return to shore again I saw a young couple walking towards the water. I stopped them and asked if they were going into the water. They said they were. I told them about the dilemma with the little blowfish. The man looked a little skeptical. By this time the blowfish was back on land, laboring for breath. The man asked if there was a bucket. He wasn’t comfortable touching the fish. I told him there wasn’t time to get a bucket. I scooped up the little blowfish with sand under him and held him out to the man. I asked if he was comfortable with this. He took the little blowfish. I told him he had to take the blowfish out past all of the waves. He bravely did this and threw the little blowfish out into the ocean. The man got an ovation from everyone who had gathered. The little blowfish didn’t return to shore and I walked the beach early the next morning and no sighting of the little blowfish. It may not seem like much to save a little fish, but it certainly made my night. We all have the opportunity to do something good for our fellow-man. Maybe you will be like that blowfish and need a helping hand. Maybe you will be the hand that helps that little blowfish.
Until next time…See who you can help on your watch.
