As I trek our shore in wonder at the gliding gulls, leaping dolphins, and breaching whales, I wonder if they are wondering about us.

I am especially curious about our brother and sister mammals: dolphins, and whales.

We think we are “civilized” when we are simply—planetized. We mammals roam this blue planet in our own ways, but we are all heart-beating creatures living under the same sun.

You’ve seen footage of dolphins or whales swimming with us in our blue-planet habitat—the sea.

I recently saw bottlenosed dolphins close offshore, at our New York Ave beach.

In offshore Long Beach, NY, we see dolphins, not porpoises. Porpoises do not have the “bottle” noses of dolphins, and their dorsal fins are more triangular, while dolphins’ dorsals are more curved.

Both simians and dolphins are curious mammals. A surfer watched a dolphin, but it did seem both were watching.

Another dolphin joined the first in a tail-slapping announcement.

Like other cetaceans, dolphins are very intelligent and communicate by sounds and tail slapping.

Soon, one dolphin joined another surfer:

A third surfer joined the dolphin-simian pod:

A second dolphin joined as well:

Before long, there was a friendly pod of dolphin-simian togetherness.

According to NOAA, Dolphins can travel alone or in groups; sometimes, the groups disperse and regroup. They often work together to herd fish against sea walls or sandbars, then take turns charging into the school for a meal.

At our sandbars, we see dolphins breathing the same air, enjoying the same sun and sea as you and me:

After some time, it seemed the dolphins needed to move on. So, each mammal went their separate way—to a new school of fish or a new incoming wave.

But before the parting, a communion of souls appeared to be at hand:

At distant parts of our tiny blue planet, simian mammals encounter complications with “others,” usually over planet territory and pod claims. They then foul Earth’s air, air meant to sustain life, with exploding steel, searing fire, and the stench of death.

Meanwhile, mammals mingled amidst gentle waves before me, sharing Earth’s air—perhaps in wonder.

Maybe we civilized simians can learn something from dolphins: Peaceful coexistence with an—other.

What a wonder—ful idea.

Be well,

Leebythesea