Olivia

 

Olivia

Say Hi to Olivia. She came with me back from Morano, an island not far from Venice, Italy. As soon as I saw her in a shop window, I was taken back by her beauty. I left her and walked around and looked at the different shops, however I knew I had to walk past her to get back to the boat to take me away from the island. 

Some time ago I made cards and being who I am, they were naturally animal cards. When I worked as a counsellor/psychotherapist I used them regularly. Every time a client picked the octopus I immediately asked: Have you seen the movie? Those who had or were considering it knew exactly what I meant: My octopus teacher. 

It is a documentary and shows how a man, who has mental health problems and is used to diving and filming in water, meets an octopus. She saves him. The movie is highlighting how intelligent the octopus is and what an impact she has. Craig Foster won an Oscar award for that movie - available on Netflix.

This made me curious. I read a book, when saying reading I mean listening to. I was called "Remarkably Bright Creatures" written by Shelby Van Pelt. It tells of Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus, who is witty and cleaver and the story is very different and I found it uplifting and nice. Not long ago I saw that it has been turned into a movie. 

At the same time I also started listening to the book "The Soul of an Octopus" by Sy Montomery. The more I find out about these lovely beings the more intrigued I become. They are amazing! They are aslo very far away from what us humans are like, so it is hard to imagine how they function. 

So back to Morano. On the way back to the boat I obviously had to buy Olivia, as I named her, and take her home with me.  A while later I find a book I fancy to listen to, The glassmaker by Tracy Chevalier. To my joy it turns out it is a story that happens on Morano. I did not know the island was known for its glassmakers and their ability to make beautiful thing out of glass. Then I look at Olivia again and realise the importance of her and of other Octopus beings. 

An octopus can use their 8 legs independently, just imagine that! I struggle to do that with two arms! Respect! Total respect for the octopus! 

And if my computer will let me open the cards again, or I find another way of accessing them, I will show you the octopus card. 

Thank you very much, Olivia!

Agnetha 🥀

Agnetha Blomberg McCormack · Octopus 250826