posted 02-18-2020 08:17 PM               

We've had our latest crop of cold stuns for almost a month now so it's time to start giving them names because frankly numbers just don't "click" with us. But what to call them?

The answer was right there in front of us when one of our locals, Christina Koch came back to earth, literally, after setting all kinds of records during her time in space. We've decided to honor her and the brave group of space men and women from the earliest days of NASA by ascribing their names to our very own ocean explorers — our "Aquanauts!"

They have a lot in common. They all start out on land, but something inside drives them to head out and search for more because they know there is more. They press on regardless of the perils that lie ahead. They have to be resourceful to overcome the unexpected and to "keep swimming" no matter what happens on their journey into the unknown. You're out there alone, and there's always the possibility (or if you're a sea turtle the probability) that you will not come back. Life is scary, but being scared is no life at all.

Now Jean and our staff begin the huge task of renaming about 90 turtles formerly known as numbers like as 13, 2025 and 31 to Shepard, Glenn, Armstrong, and McAuliffe. We've already assigned "Koch" her official aquanaut name. When you visit us this spring you'll probably be surprised to learn how many of these names you'll recognize. We are proud to have our patients bear the names of these heroic men and women. We feel the honor befits both them and the courage of our patients.