Monterey Bay Aquarium, My Life as a Monterey Bay Aquarium Guide

The Day the Music Died ~ My Beautiful Giant Pacific Octopus ~ RIP

August 8, 2019

RIP My Beautiful Giant Pacific Octopus

As a Monterey Bay Aquarium guide and as an educator perhaps I am not supposed to get overly attached to the marine animals at the Aquarium – but I do.

Susan Clark, Monterey Bay Aquarium guide with 300+ volunteer hours

I truly grow to love them.  I love the hermit crabs, the sea otters, and even the Rock Fish, but mostly I have loved our male Giant Pacific Octopus.

Does that sound crazy?  Dog and cat lovers might think so, but I can’t help it, I love all marine animals ~ they touch my soul.

Why do I feel today like I felt on February 3, 1959 “The Day the Music Died” ?  Our beautiful male Giant Pacific Octopus passed away today and my heart is very sad.

Why I thought of that day in 1959 and that  song – I really don’t know.  All I know is that the beauty of the dance he would do when he came out to play and the music of his being is gone.

The thrill of his presence when he came out of hiding and spread his giant tentacles to say hello to our visitors is now a memory.

But wonderful memories they are and we will always remember  this extraordinary creature.

I love you my beautiful Octopus!  May you rest in peace.

We now have two lovely female Giant Pacific Octopuses at the Monterey Bay Aquarium.  Please come and see and experience these extraordinary animals.