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The Authentic Eclectic
Environmentally Speaking, Much Can Happen In Nine Years
The clear evidence of extinction of particular species scared us to death. Nobody seemed concerned or aware. This was an ecosystem in crisis.
Yes, we returned to Bougainville some nine years after we left, this time with our daughter.
There were people there who had become a big part of our lives, and we wanted them to be in her life too.
Besides, we had so many things to teach her about this island living.
First, let’s flash back to our first year on the island
It’s hard to forget our initial walk along the beach, where the sand seemed to be moving, ever so slightly, but moving nonetheless. On closer inspection we found we were looking at thousands of tiny hermit crabs.
Hermit crabs love to live where the land and ocean meet. That first meeting is still etched in my mind, as there were so many of them. Seems they like to hide amongst the rocks when the tide ebbs.
No matter how often we went to the beach thereafter, we’d stop, and gaze, and be in awe of these omnivorous creatures.
