Since the day I was born, my parents were obsessed with travel. Literally a few weeks after my birth, we shipped off to Dubai for the first year and a half of my life. We stopped for a few years to let my sister and I grow up so we could be fit for the trip of a lifetime--Seaworld. It has always been said that Seaworld is one of the best places to take your little kids. Go see the cute little dolphins and the calm gigantic whales. Usually it's a dream, but for me it was a nightmare. It was there that I discovered my fear of killer whales.
My fear is the most embarrassing thing in the world to admit, and I usually don't share it with people, but I am deathly afraid of whales! When I went to see the cute Orca show, I was sitting way too close for comfort. The incredibly giant whale jumped on the deck and sprayed water to its fan section, and I flipped out. I ran to the very top of the stands and never looked back. As a five-year old that experience was traumatic. My mom has told me about many other things that scared me while we were there, but there is no other incident that I can remember.
The life-changing experience left me permanently scarred. For years I could never even look at a picture of a whale without wanting to cry and hurl all at the same time. This is so embarrassing considering that this was a problem until last year. I turned over a new leaf and I now can go as far as glancing at a picture of the KILLER creatures. I have gone from sheer panic to slightly nauseous, and for me that is an enormous accomplishment.
Hopefully one day I'll get back to being able to watch my favorite childhood movie--Free Willy. It is so ironic that I loved that movie until my terrible experience. If and when I overcome my post-traumatic stress disorder, I will have a Free Willy marathon. Until then, if I ever see an Orca, I will run away crying.
My fear is the most embarrassing thing in the world to admit, and I usually don't share it with people, but I am deathly afraid of whales! When I went to see the cute Orca show, I was sitting way too close for comfort. The incredibly giant whale jumped on the deck and sprayed water to its fan section, and I flipped out. I ran to the very top of the stands and never looked back. As a five-year old that experience was traumatic. My mom has told me about many other things that scared me while we were there, but there is no other incident that I can remember.
The life-changing experience left me permanently scarred. For years I could never even look at a picture of a whale without wanting to cry and hurl all at the same time. This is so embarrassing considering that this was a problem until last year. I turned over a new leaf and I now can go as far as glancing at a picture of the KILLER creatures. I have gone from sheer panic to slightly nauseous, and for me that is an enormous accomplishment.
Hopefully one day I'll get back to being able to watch my favorite childhood movie--Free Willy. It is so ironic that I loved that movie until my terrible experience. If and when I overcome my post-traumatic stress disorder, I will have a Free Willy marathon. Until then, if I ever see an Orca, I will run away crying.
Oh man, Sarah! I can't believe I never knew this about you. It seems to be such a big part of your life. To feel nauseous when you even see a picture, it had to have been! I love that you adored Free Willy before; oh the irony! But when you're young like that and some huge, black monster comes flopping at you, I suppose I can see the reason for your fear. But I have an idea: we should have a Free Willy marathon soon! Maybe then, you'll get over your fear faster! Face your fears! It'll be a great time (despite your queasy stomach)!
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh Sarah I would have never guessed this! I'm so sorry that this experience ruined your favorite movie- it is a classic! I guess such a large animal can be frightening to a young child, but then again it's name is even more scary...killer whale, what a friendly name, not. Maybe one day if you have children you can face your fears, and conquer them, on your own vacation to Seaworld! Good luck!
ReplyDeleteObviously Free Willy is the greatest animal movie ever. Too bad you can't watch it. I'd recommend trying to conquer your fear because life isn't complete without Free Willy. Nice pun by the way when you said "flipped out."
ReplyDeleteWell sarah, I am glad that you have "turned over a new leaf" and can now bear to look at whales! This is definately something I would not expect you to be afraid of, but I have never been that close to one before so I'm not judging you (: ..I have always wanted to go to Sea World! Oh by the way, I wanted to ask you: have you ever seen the movie pinocchio? I would like to know your reaction to the whale in that movie..
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