i was 9. my parents saved for yrs to take me n my maternal grandparents to Costa Rica to see where my grandfather was from (he hadn't been back in 30 yrs). we stayed in a resort in Monteverde for a couple nights. and it was just. in a fucking tree on our way to breakfast. could not believe our eyes

seriously that shit is absolutely on the highlight reel of my life lmao. like when i got out of the water, i was just full of so much JOY

i made myself journal about it in as much detail as i possibly could as soon as i was dry enough to do so lol

blew my mind, changed my life lol

the like 'common frame of reference animal' its vibe felt most similar to was CAT lol, but also it was soooo very Not Cat.

popped its lil eyes (these guys don't have eye stalks, but they do have, like, eye ridge thingies?) up over the edge of the coral to see if i was still there

SEVERAL TIMES!!

I PLAYED PEEKABOO WITH A FUCKING OCTOPUS

i followed it until it settled under the edge of a coral formation and changed color and texture to blend in (🤯) and i hovered for a while to see if it would get bored/unbothered by my presence. it did not, so i swam over/behind the coral so that i could juuust see part of its head, and it fucking.

snorkeling in Kauai, 2023. swimmin around some coral and i turned and HOLY SHIT AN OCTOPUS! i think we startled each other 😅 because it inked (!!!), changed color and texture (threat display??) and went into zoom-mode with its arms all tucked together 🥺

shit shit wait, i got the species wrong, how very not-Stede-coded of me!--it was a day octopus aka big blue octopus aka octopus cyanea

IT CHANGED MY LIFE

MY ABSOLUTE DELIGHT! it's so special i'm so excited wheeeee!!!!

omg this is amazing. there's a focus mode on my phone that pauses 'distracting' apps, so to access, say, bluesky, i have to be like Yes Phone Gremlin I Do Want To Activate This App For 5 Minutes, but that is... too easy 😂

oh my GOD 👀👀

i CACKLED

YESSSSSSSSSSSSS

OBSESSED