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A Journey
of the Heart
Having worked in TV news for more than a decade, there are few stories that really get me in the gut and affect me personally and emotionally. Of course, we cover tragic and important stories everyday. But one local story inspired me to do more than report the news. It challenged me to do something I’ve never done before: write a children’s book. Early last May two wayward whales, Delta and Dawn, took a wrong turn and swam up the Sacramento River. For two weeks, the mother and calf captured national and world-wide attention. Scientists worked round-the-clock to get the pair back to the ocean. (You may remember Humphrey swam up the Sacramento River to Rio Vista back in the 1980’s.) Despite having been wounded by a boat’s propeller, Delta and Dawn set a record by traveling 90 miles, all the way to the Port of Sacramento. One weekend, 20 thousand people turned out in West Sacramento to watch them swim in circles. My TV station, CBS13/CW 31, covered the event in every news show, from every angle. Each morning I anchored coverage on Good Day Sacramento as the sun rose and we got our first glimpse of the mother and baby. The pair were always side-by-side during the two-week ordeal. And the mama whale kept feeding the calf, even though she had not eaten in days. I soon became attached and worried about the whales. I thought of my own three-year-old son and my love for him. It’s amazing how the mother and child bond is apparent in every living creature. The story for me became more than two whales lost in the river. The story became emotional and personal. My husband and even a co-worker suggested I write a children’s book incorporating the relationship between parent and child into the story. Initially, I blew off the idea. But one Sunday, we decided to go to the Port of Sacramento and see Delta and Dawn for ourselves. When we arrived, a police officer told us the whales had taken off down the river. They were heading home! My husband and I decided to take our son to Rio Vista to wait for the whales. We waited for hours on a road along the river. And we weren’t alone. Dozens of families, with their blankets, coolers and binoculars, waited too. They also felt connected to the whales and wanted to witness this amazing sight. We all waited and waited until darkness fell. The whales took their time and didn’t make it to Rio Vista that day. It was disappointing. But that disappointment was not as great as the joy we felt knowing they were going home. We all know how the rest of the story goes. After some dramatic stops, Delta and Dawn made their way back down the river. And with the help of scientists, they made it all the way back to their ocean home. I walked away feeling more than thrilled for the mother and baby. I walked away feeling inspired to write about the bond I knew they shared and the love people had shown for the whales. I began writing Delta and Dawn: Mother and Baby Whales’ Journey. Of course, the book is based on the actual events, but there’s a theme throughout the book (“Stay close to mama!”) that parents and children will appreciate as they read the story of how this mother protects and looks out for her baby throughout their journey. I had never written a children’s book before. I started calling anyone and everyone I knew who had published a book. Eventually, another mother—who happens to be the publisher of Big Tomato Press in Sacramento—got a hold of the manuscript. She felt the same mother and baby connection and loved it. She hired artist Lily Toppenberg to create the illustrations. Lily is a gifted artist. Her work, including her murals, can be seen at the Sacramento Zoo. The entire process has been a joy. Certainly, it’s been stressful and frightening at times, but each challenge has been rewarding. Two years ago, I would have laughed if someone told me I would write a children’s book and see it published. But it’s amazing what our children inspire us to do.
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