Page 12 - Hobe Sound Refletions - March '24

Page 12, Hobe Sound

Book Review

Remarkably Bright Creatures Bright Creatures, a It is a fact that, because they are gelatinous and have no
debut novel by Shelby bones, even octopuses whose tentacles stretch to 6 or 8 feet wide
By Nils A. Shapiro Va n Pe l t . I n h e r are able to squeeze through holes as small as 1 or 2 inches wide.
When my two wonderful acknowledgements she They have also been known to figure out how to open locks.
daughters, Brett and Hillary, credits Sy Montgomery It is in the very special chapters throughout the book
surprised me recently with for what she learned in involving Marcellus’s most important place in the story
a gift copy of this book it The Soul of an Octopus. that this remarkable creature contributes the narrative
was clear they remembered Van Pelt’s novel himself, each time announcing the timing of the events
my telling them several is itself a remarkable taking place. His first: “Day 1,299 of My Captivity”…
years ago about having had achievement, a highly Marcellus had spent most of his life in the freedom of
one of the most emotional imaginative and the open ocean, before he was captured 3 1/2 years earlier
experiences of my life. I had beautifully told story of and placed in the small, boring “prison” of a tank that
just written a rave review relationships, memories, shortens the life of these intelligent cephalopods, and he
for The Soul of an Octopus, sadness, family and love. is now aware that his own will soon be ending.
a nonfiction book that went on to climb the bestseller lists An elderly widow His only friend, Tova, has grieved for many years over
in 25 countries around the world. Its award-winning author, in her 70s, Tova, works the loss of her son, Erik, a high school senior who died
Sy Montgomery, whom I had never met before but who evenings at the aquarium in her town of Sowell Bay, mysteriously several decades earlier in a case that was
has since become a dear friend, called to thank me and Wash., mopping the floors and keeping the glass walls of officially ruled a drowning while he was in his boat at sea.
invited me to meet her at the New England Aquarium to all the exhibits clear and clean. She genuinely cares for Another important character in the book, Cameron, is
meet Sy, the giant Pacific octopus that had been named all the various creatures within their enclosures and often introduced as a 30-year-old man raised by his Aunt Jeanne
after her. feeds them but has a special affection for, and connection when his mother abandoned him soon after his birth.
She explained to me, however, that I would have to make with, the giant Pacific octopus, Marcellus, whose restless Following a series of employment difficulties and some
the visit soon because, as her book explains, after a female nature and renowned intelligence is reflected in his research he now believes that his natural father, whom he
octopus lays her 100,000 eggs she instinctively immediately constant successful escapes from his tank to explore – has never known, has become a wealthy real estate tycoon
rests her eight tentacles on top of them to protect them from and sometimes devour – the tasty samples from nearby living in Seattle and makes plans to confront the man with
predators in her natural ocean habitat. From that moment on other tanks. It is a secret that Tova does not disclose to the intent of demanding some financial compensation for
she no longer forages for her own food and slowly, over a the aquarium’s officials lest they punish her eight-legged all the years of parental neglect.
period of weeks, starves to death – sacrificing her own life friend. Instead, she always catches him and returns him
long enough to allow her babies to be born. to his tank. Book Review on page 13
I knew from Sy’s book that octopuses are among the
world’s most intelligent creatures, having been on this
planet for millions of years with almost no evolution Treasure Coast Hospice
because they are almost perfect for their environment. A TREASURE HEALTH SERVICE
They recognize individual human faces – the one I was
to meet already knew Sy the author as a friend – and can
easily solve complicated puzzles provided by the aquarium
on a regular basis to prevent their becoming bored. We’re Here When You Need Us
When I arrived, after Sy the octopus greeted Sy the
author by raising a tentacle out of the water and wrapping
it around her waist and holding it there for quite a while, HOSPICE CARE
the author unwrapped the tentacle, turned to me and said, Providing exceptional care to patients in their homes,
“It’s your turn, Nils.” hospitals, assisted living residences, and in our
I was taken aback for a moment, was handed a small Inpatient Units.
fish that had been the octopus’s favorite food, then stood GRIEF SUPPORT
and looked down into the tank. A tentacle arose from the Grief counseling for our patients, their families, and
water, took the fish gently from my hand ... but dropped anyone in our community who has experienced the
it. She was already too weak to eat and was starving. But loss of a loved one.
the tentacle came up again and slowly wrapped around
my wrist! She was tasting me – she could taste down to PEDIATRIC CARE
my bloodstream with any part of her skin – and, having Our specialized pediatric team helps families
accepted me as a friend of her friend, slowly wrapped a overcome the challenges of caring for a child with a
tentacle gripping me gently, suction cup sucker by sucker serious illness.
that felt like wet velvet around my wrist and held me there
in greeting a very long time.
Soon, realizing that this was a creature as different
from a human as would be a visitor from outer space – its Proudly Serving Our Community
mouth is in its armpit – but is at least as intelligent as a
human in many ways, I began to choke up at the enormity Treasure Coast Hospice has earned the
of the experience and, with tears streaming down my face, Gold Seal of Approval for hospice accreditation
®
spoke softly to this Sy of the sea: “Do you realize what’s
happening? Do you know that you’re dying? I know it’s to from The Joint Commission.
save your babies. I wish I could help you.” After a while I 772-403-4500 VISIT US ON THE WEB
was told it was time to leave and had to uncoil the tentacle. 24/7 www.TreasureHealth.org
It was an experience I will never forget.
I mention all of the above because an octopus named Licensed since 1982. Treasure Coast Hospice complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. ATENCIÓN: Si habla español, tiene a
su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. Llame al 772-403-4500. (Spanish) ATANSYON: Si w pale Kreyòl Ayisyen, gen sèvis èd pou lang ki disponib gratis pou ou. Rele 772-403-4500. (French Creole).
Marcellus is one of the main characters in Remarkably