On August 13th, 2018 an Orca by the name of J35 finally dropped her dead calf after carrying her 1,000 miles through the span of 17 days. This story made national headlines because this mom mourned with such powerful grief that she literally pushed up her calf to the top of the water for her to breathe every minute.
A mother’s love is an amazing thing. Remembering all the times my mom carried me in my life - she didn’t physically carry me, but I felt the love just the same. Like sophomore year when I was going through a depression. My mom kept my face above water, pushing me every minute to the surface by creating movie nights, getting me out of the house, talking about my problems. She carried me metaphorically for more than what I would consider 1,000 miles.
Another example, not even three weeks ago, calling my mom crying because I have PPD and her just being on the phone with me for over an hour and subsequently calling me every hour that day and 5 times a day over the next day to check in. Keeping my head above water from more than 700 miles away.
Now don’t get me wrong, this is incredible story of persistence from the mother orca and shows what a mother’s love is, but now as a mother, I don’t find it out of the ordinary. Because for my kids, I would carry them 1,000 - 5,000 - any distance, until my legs give out and I can’t go anymore. I would carry them the finite amount of days I have on this earth until I am dead because of my mother’s example.
From now on when my boys ask me how much I love them, a recurring question I had for my mom and a staple between my husband and I, I will say, “I love you so much, I would carry you for more than 1,000 miles and for more than 27 days”.
