Page 26 - Boca ViewPinte - March '24

Page 26, Viewpointe March 2024
Book Review: Remarkably Bright Creatures

By Nils A. Shapiro that this remarkable research he now believes that his natural father, whom he
creature contributes the has never known, has become a wealthy real estate tycoon
When my two wonderful narrative himself, each living in Seattle and makes plans to confront the man with
daughters, Brett and Hillary, time announcing the the intent of demanding some financial compensation for
surprised me recently with timing of the events all the years of parental neglect.
a gift copy of this book it taking place. His first: When the planned meeting with his assumed father is
was clear they remembered “Day 1,299 of My delayed, Cameron takes a job at the Sowell Bay aquarium
my telling them several Captivity”… temporarily replacing Tova when she is injured, and the
years ago about having had Marcellus had spent two gradually form a genuine friendship.
one of the most emotional most of his life in the While in Sowell Bay, Cameron begins to develop a
experiences of my life. freedom of the open relationship with a young woman, Avery – and author
I had just written a rave ocean, before he was Van Pelt adds to the cast of characters Ethan, owner of
review for The Soul of an Octopus, a nonfiction book that captured 3 1/2 years the local market. All are interesting and worth getting to
went on to climb the bestseller lists in 25 countries around earlier and placed in the know.
the world. Its award-winning author, Sy Montgomery, small, boring “prison” But it is Marcellus who, with his intelligence, intuitive
whom I had never met before but who has since become of a tank that shortens understanding and scientifically accurate physical skills
a dear friend, called to thank me and invited me to meet the life of these intelligent cephalopods, and he is now ultimately brings together all of the complex strands of
her at the New England Aquarium to meet Sy, the giant aware that his own will soon be ending. this book’s imaginative story line to a satisfying, yet
Pacific octopus that had been named after her. His only friend, Tova, has grieved for many years over magical, conclusion.
She explained to me, however, that I would have to the loss of her son, Erik, a high school senior who died As for me, it was after I had read page 250 of this
make the visit soon because, as her book explains, after mysteriously several decades earlier in a case that was book’s 355 pages, at a special moment in the narrative,
a female octopus lays her 100,000 eggs she instinctively officially ruled a drowning while he was in his boat at sea. that I put the book down and, feeling all choked up, with
immediately rests her eight tentacles on top of them to Another important character in the book, Cameron, is the memory of my own earlier experience, called both my
protect them from predators in her natural ocean habitat. introduced as a 30-year-old man raised by his Aunt Jeanne daughters and thanked them for their very thoughtful gift.
From that moment on she no longer forages for her own when his mother abandoned him soon after his birth. I suspect you will want to thank me for sharing this
food and slowly, over a period of weeks, starves to death Following a series of employment difficulties and some wonderful book with you. 
– sacrificing her own life long enough to allow her babies
to be born.
world’s most intelligent creatures, having been on this Mayor’s Update: A Progress Report,
I knew from Sy’s book that octopuses are among the

planet for millions of years with almost no evolution
They recognize individual human faces – the one I was A Team Effort
because they are almost perfect for their environment.
to meet already knew Sy the author as a friend – and can
easily solve complicated puzzles provided by the aquarium Scott Singer is the 35th city that are 30 years old or greater. Boca Raton was the
on a regular basis to prevent their becoming bored. Mayor of Boca Raton and first city in Florida to adopt an enhanced recertification
When I arrived, after Sy the octopus greeted Sy the was re-elected in 2023. process after the tragedy in Surfside.
author by raising a tentacle out of the water and wrapping A South Florida native, The city was recognized by the American Shore
it around her waist and holding it there for quite a while, attorney, mediator, and and Beach Preservation Association (ASBPA) for its
the author unwrapped the tentacle, turned to me and said, small business owner, multi-jurisdictional beach restoration collaboration.
“It’s your turn, Nils.” Scott and his wife Bella The project successfully renourished beaches in Boca
I was taken aback for a moment, was handed a small live in Broken Sound with Raton, Deerfield Beach and Hillsboro Beach using
fish that had been the octopus’s favorite food, then stood their two young children. the city’s inlet ebb shoal as the sand source. Together,
and looked down into the tank. A tentacle arose from the the projects led to cost savings and enhanced inlet
water, took the fish gently from my hand ... but dropped For this month’s navigation.
it. She was already too weak to eat and was starving. But update, I’m going to While waiting at a car wash, Boca Raton Police
the tentacle came up again and slowly wrapped around share updates prepared by our City Communications Officer Stephen Bissoon acted quickly and saved a
my wrist! She was tasting me – she could taste down to team highlighting only some of the many successes man’s life. A gentleman at the car wash was eating
my bloodstream with any part of her skin – and, having and recognitions earned by our dedicated City of Boca lunch when he started to choke, and ran over to Officer
accepted me as a friend of her friend, slowly wrapped a Raton employees. Bissoon, who successfully performed the Heimlich
tentacle gripping me gently, suction cup sucker by sucker Boca Raton has continued to thrive, fostering a vibrant maneuver. This is just one example of Police Services
that felt like wet velvet around my wrist and held me there coastal community with significant advancements in staff members taking care of the community.
in greeting a very long time. infrastructure, public services, public safety, mobility The Sea Turtle Conservation Team from the city’s
Soon, realizing that this was a creature as different and connectivity, environmental sustainability and so Gumbo Limbo Nature Center marked a record 1,394
from a human as would be a visitor from outer space – its much more. sea turtle nests on Boca Raton beaches this season. The
mouth is in its armpit – but is at least as intelligent as a Through collaborative efforts, we’ve enhanced unprecedented number of nests is a testament to over
human in many ways, I began to choke up at the enormity recreational spaces, implemented innovative urban 50 years of conservation efforts and initiatives in the
of the experience and, with tears streaming down my face, planning initiatives, and strengthened community city that have supported plant, wildlife and marine life
spoke softly to this Sy of the sea: “Do you realize what’s engagement programs. As we reflect on the past year, on both the barrier island and mainland.
happening? Do you know that you’re dying? I know it’s we are committed to building upon these achievements We will highlight more of our continued successes.
to save your babies. I wish I could help you.” After a to ensure Boca Raton remains a premier destination to Want to see more of them or discuss anything? Please
while I was told it was time to leave and had to uncoil live, work, learn and play. reach out with your thoughts at ssinger@myboca.us.
the tentacle. It was an experience I will never forget. The city approved the first 30-year building I feel blessed to work with great teams of dedicated
I mention all of the above because an octopus named recertification under its Building Recertification professionals, and moreover to work for the residents
Marcellus is one of the main characters in Remarkably Inspection Program. Introduced in 2021, the program of our city. 
Bright Creatures, a debut novel by Shelby Van Pelt. In helps ensure the safety and integrity of buildings in the
her acknowledgements she credits Sy Montgomery for
what she learned in The Soul of an Octopus.
Van Pelt’s novel is itself a remarkable achievement,
a highly imaginative and beautifully told story of WHAT ARE YOUR
relationships, memories, sadness, family and love.
An elderly widow in her 70s, Tova, works evenings at MEDICARE OPTIONS?
the aquarium in her town of Sowell Bay, Wash., mopping
the floors and keeping the glass walls of all the exhibits I will help you find a health plan that
clear and clean. She genuinely cares for all the various best fits your needs at no cost to you.
creatures within their enclosures and often feeds them • Medicare Supplements
but has a special affection for, and connection with, the • Medicare Advantage Plans
giant Pacific octopus, Marcellus, whose restless nature • Individual Health Insurance
and renowned intelligence is reflected in his constant • Medicare Part D Drug Plans
successful escapes from his tank to explore – and • Dental, Vision, & Cancer Plans
sometimes devour – the tasty samples from nearby other
tanks. It is a secret that Tova does not disclose to the
aquarium’s officials lest they punish her eight-legged
friend. Instead, she always catches him and returns him Beth S. Sigel
to his tank.
It is a fact that, because they are gelatinous and have Boca Pointe Resident
no bones, even octopuses whose tentacles stretch to 6 or (954) 261-4648
8 feet wide are able to squeeze through holes as small as beth@reliablemedicaresolutions.com
1 or 2 inches wide. They have also been known to figure www.reliablemedicaresolutions.com
out how to open locks. “We do not offer every plan in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area.
It is in the very special chapters throughout the book Please contact 1-800-Medicare or Medicare.gov to get information on all your options.”
involving Marcellus’s most important place in the story