Whales and Boats
"The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever." – Jacques Cousteau
January 26th, 2026
📍Bucerias, Nayarit, Mexico 🇲🇽
¡Saludos desde el desierto!
On Wednesday, my parents and I went whale watching.
Unlike other years, there were no dramatic close encounters—no massive bodies surfacing right beside the boat. Instead, we saw them at a distance. Many of them. All around us. Dark shapes rising and disappearing again, just far enough away to remind me that you don’t always get the moment you imagined, but you still get the presence.
It felt fitting.
On Saturday morning, I was standing barefoot on the edge of the bay in Bucerías, watching the annual blessing of the boats.
The fishing boats were decorated with balloons and crosses, bright against the blue ocean. The beach was packed with onlookers. A priest came down to the shoreline and began blessing both the people and the boats, casting holy water out over the crowd. One by one, the boats came up to shore to offload passengers who had boarded across the bay in La Cruz.
I felt lucky to be there for it.
The rest of the week has been full in the best way.
Adventurous breakfasts. Long walks. Laughter. That easy rhythm that only happens when you don't have to rush anyone or be anywhere else. I've loved having my parents here—especially my mom, my adventurous sidekick this month. She's been game for everything in a way that feels like a gift.
They head back home this week. Back to Colorado. Back to snow and subzero temperatures. Back to the deep freeze settling over so much of North America right now.
It's hard not to think about the contrast—about people traveling, people huddling indoors, people without homes or heat, people just trying to get through winter. Holding all of that at once feels important. Grateful for warmth, time together, and shared days that will linger. In the face of the deep freeze back home, I'm letting gratitude widen instead of close. Making room for joy and compassion.Holding the warmth without forgetting the cold.
Stay warm, my friends.
With Love, unconditionally—
Jennifer
P.S.—I’d love to hear from YOU! Rather than emailing me or dropping me a DM, please post a comment below 👇
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