If ever I find a way to write on a regular, I’ll be sure to share the story of my first volunteer job as a wee lad of 14 years–and how I got hooked on volunteerism. But like you, time is tight, so today I’ll get to the point and be as brief as possible.
Angel Notion is an invention that–like so many world changing inventions–was created by chance.
Dateline – Late 1990s: Recently “retired” from the hotel and restaurant business, Lavonna Redman was at a crossroads in life and contemplating what to do next.
One afternoon, while walking on the outskirts of Playa del Carmen, Mexico’s main drag, Lavonna happened upon a sad-looking woman sitting in front of a small house. Lavonna said hello, and struck up a conversation by asking the woman how she was. When she told me what the woman said, I was moved:
“My daughter is sick and the government doctors cannot help her. I’m afraid she’s going to die.”
After chatting for a while, the woman invited Lavonna into her home to meet her daughter. The little girl was blue all over. As it turned out, the child had a hole in her heart and without medical attention would bleed to death internally.
Shaken, Lavonna left their home committed to finding help for them.
To see what this is all about please see my original post “Angels Among Us.”
We know you want to make a difference, but don’t always know how. On this page you’ll find a continuously-updated list of needed items at the Angel Notion Clinic in Playa del Carmen, Mexico.
Whenever possible I’ll include photos of specific items.
Angel Notion will gladly accept any aspirin donations. Since the primary focus of the aspirin program is children, chewable's are most appreciated
Currently #1 on the list:
In the first week of November 2010 a team of volunteers, in conjunction with the University of Vermont, will descend on Quintana Roo to continue their annual diabetes testing and training program. In 2009 they tested every available taxi driver throughout the state with exception of Cancun. We’ve recently been informed that “One Touch Ultra strips” are direly needed.
I was on Tulum Beach when I got word a baby sea turtle had just hatched. Fortunately I had my camera. It was really exciting to see this tiny little creature teaching itself to walk, as it instinctively headed into the Caribbean Sea.
Here’s a little video I put together; enjoy.
After starting, if you click the video again it should open in a new window with better resolution and load faster.
Saturday’s clear skies and full moon made it an ideal night for walking the Tulum beach in search of giant sea turtles. The remote border of the Sian Ka’an Bio Reserve provided the landscape for our escapade.
Here were our easy-to-follow rules:
1) No lights. Lights frighten turtles and upon seeing them they generally make a B-line back to the water. That means no flashlights, penlights, cell phones and even cigarette lighters. And by all means no flash photography – if you can’t get a picture, you’re SOL.
2) Be quiet. For thousands of years (millions maybe?) these giant sea turtles have been coming to this beach to nest – with the hopes of preserving their breed. So shhhh, let them take care of their business.
The Setup . . .
Picture this: you’re in a foreign country, it’s midnight and dark. The moon is full and (as moons go) it’s a bright one. You’re walking the beach, your bare feet gripping soft sand and seaweed. The sound of the surf clouds your senses as you walk – head down - searching for fresh turtle tracks that exit the sea. Oh, and it’s WINDY! Yea baby!
Now, I’ve done this before and thought I’d have gotten used to it, but again on this night I couldn’t help feeling like I’d been teleported to the Planet of The Apes, or at least dropped onto the set of Lost in Space. In the past I’ve gone back to Playa del Carmen and talked about the experience, but don’t really think I’ve done it justice. Maybe this time will be different . . .
This time I brought my camera . . .
A sea turtle nest, completed moments before our arrival. The stake in the center was placed by environmentalists to mark the nest. That's Venus on the horizon
