A Dance Performance Of A Local Harbour Seal At Rocky Point

A Facebook Memory That Took Me Back

At 7:30 a.m., as usual, my alarm started ringing—yes, even on a weekend. As I lay in bed scrolling through emails and social media notifications, Facebook suddenly showed me a memory from two years ago.

That memory was priceless.

Instantly, I was taken down memory lane, replaying flashbacks of a season of life that now feels both distant and incredibly close.

Sometime in May two years ago, my kids were still at the age where playgrounds felt magical. One day, they asked me to take them somewhere that wasn’t exactly “local.” By that point, we had already explored what felt like every playground in Port Coquitlam, and they were craving a change of scenery.

Without hesitation, I thought of Rocky Point—a place that never disappoints. We loved everything about it: the smell of the ocean, the sailboats and yacht club, the playground, fish and chips, crabbing and fishing along the pier, and, of course, local craft beers enjoyed on a sunny patio.

The Asian Grandma's echos and lecture

We arrived around 11 a.m. after packing all the usual essentials: lunch, snacks, water, and extra clothes.

My kids loved bouncing back and forth between the playground and the water park without ever getting tired of either. I already knew the weather wouldn’t be particularly warm, so I packed sweaters and sweatpants to avoid excessive whining—and, more importantly, those little purple lips from getting too cold.

After setting up our little picnic station on the grass beside the playground, I took my daughter to change at the public washroom conveniently located right next to the play area. Honestly, I wish every playground were designed as thoughtfully as Rocky Point’s—for the sake of both children and parents.

When we stepped out of the washroom, my son was already sprinting through the water park with the biggest grin on his face. He was laughing, splashing, and darting through the sprays while freezing cold water blasted him from every direction.

Meanwhile, I got chills just watching him.

Immediately, I could hear my Asian mother’s voice in my head:

“He’s going to catch a cold!”

Of course, I had already reminded her a billion times that my kids are also half European. Somehow, they seem naturally immune to temperatures that make me reach for a sweater.

As for my son, he couldn’t have cared less about the cold. He was having the time of his life.

Ice Cream Rewards and Mama Goose Warnings

After about an hour of playing, both kids started begging for ice cream.

I assured them that treats would come—but only after they finished their “choice food” first. Fortunately, they happily devoured their chicken wraps and vegetables knowing ice cream was waiting on the other side.

Before heading out, I made sure they changed into warm, dry layers. After all, they had spent nearly an hour running through freezing cold water. It wasn’t just for their comfort—it was also to ensure their Asian grandma would approve. Had she seen them dripping wet and running around in the cool breeze, I would never have heard the end of it. 😂

As we walked toward the ice cream shop, we passed a large grassy field covered with geese. Proud parents, fluffy newborn goslings, and awkward teenage-looking chicks wandered around together.

Naturally, my five-year-old daughter was instantly drawn to them. She started walking toward one goose family with every intention of giving them a pet.

Before she got too close, I quickly pulled her back as the mother goose stretched out her neck and hissed a warning.

“They bite hard,” I told her.

“Every mother protects her babies from strangers, and to them, you’re a stranger.”

My daughter looked up at me with her big watery eyes.

“Okay, Mommy… but they’re so cute.”

I smiled and replied, “I know. But just like that mama goose, no one is going to touch my cute children either.”

In that moment, I think the goose and I understood each other a little better. ❤️

Rocky Point Ice Cream and a Live Discovery Channel

Once we arrived at the ice cream shop, my daughter chose a kid-sized scoop of bubblegum while my son surprised me by ordering Earl Grey. As for me, I stayed loyal to my all-time favorite flavor—ube.

Mmmhmmm… who knew purple yam in ice cream form could be so dangerously delicious?

With waffle cones in hand, we made our way toward the boardwalk to enjoy the cool breeze and the unmistakable scent of the ocean.

We were quietly soaking in the moment when my seven-year-old suddenly shouted:

“Mom! It’s high tide right now! Look!”

I followed his excited finger toward the water.

“A seal is going after a school of fish!”

Sure enough, just offshore, a harbour seal twisted and glided through the water while a massive school of fish darted frantically in every direction.

It felt like watching a live Discovery Channel episode unfold right in front of us.

The seal moved so gracefully it almost looked like contemporary dance underwater—except this elegant performance was actually a hunt, and the fish were swimming for their lives.

We stood there mesmerized.

What looked like a beautiful underwater ballet to us was actually a thrilling chase between predator and prey. My son couldn’t take his eyes off it, narrating every movement as though he were hosting his own wildlife documentary. 😂🐟🦭

The Great Seal Debate

Before long, my children’s excited “wows!” and screams started drawing attention from nearby families. Soon, a small crowd of children had gathered along the railing to watch the seal’s pursuit.

One young girl, clearly rooting for the fish, shouted:

“Don’t eat the fish!”

My son immediately turned toward her and replied with complete confidence:

“You do know seals are carnivores, right? They have to eat too.”

I had to bite my lip to keep from laughing.

There they were—two young children passionately debating the circle of life beside the ocean.

The little girl frowned.

“But that’s too many fish for one seal!”

Without missing a beat, my little smartypants responded:

“Oh my gosh, you do know fish swim really fast, right? Besides, fish reproduce by the thousands—even millions! The seal isn’t going to eat that many!”

He said it with such confidence that I nearly burst out laughing.

As I listened, I couldn’t help but appreciate the innocence of childhood. One child was full of empathy for the fish while the other passionately defended the hungry seal.

Neither of them was wrong.

They were simply seeing the same moment through different lenses.

Meanwhile, there I was, trying not to drop my melting ube ice cream while quietly enjoying the most unexpected debate happening beside our live nature documentary.

Cold Kids and One Last Stop

After lingering another 15 minutes to watch our “live-action Discovery Channel,” the kids finally finished their ice cream. Their hands were sticky, their faces were smeared with evidence of every last bite, and they looked completely content.

Meanwhile, the ocean breeze was starting to feel much colder.

Then my daughter looked up at me with a runny nose and deep frown.

“Mommy… I’m cold.”

Meanwhile, my son was nowhere near ready to leave.

His attention had already shifted to the action on the pier—fishing rods cast into the water, crab traps being pulled up, and strangers sharing stories about their catches.

I gave him another 15 minutes to wander around and socialize with the anglers and crabbers. He has always loved fishing, crabbing, and all kinds of outdoor foraging—and he still does to this day.

Of course, what was supposed to be a quick 15-minute stop quickly turned into 30.

Every fishing rod became a conversation. Every crab trap became a must-see event.

Eventually, reality caught up with us. His sister, bundled tightly in her sweater and still sniffling from the cold, started protesting.

“Can we go now?”

With one final dramatic glance toward the water—as though he were leaving behind the adventure of a lifetime—my son finally agreed it was time to head home. 🎣🦀❤️

The Memories That Truly Matter

Looking back now, I realize the playgrounds and ice cream were only the sidekicks of the day.

The real highlights were the moments in between—the seal hunt, the debate between two children about nature, the conversations with fishermen and crabbers, and the simple joy of spending uninterrupted time together.

The best memories I can give my children aren’t things that can be bought or wrapped in a box.

They’re the experiences that stay with you for a lifetime—the kind that unexpectedly resurface years later through a Facebook memory and instantly bring back the sounds, smells, laughter, and feelings as if they happened yesterday.