'Wow' factor

I grew up in Kitsap County and got to see the Olympic Mountains most days. I'm quite certain that, in my youth, I did not fully appreciate the natural beauty surrounding me.

But our daughter seems to.

For the past few days, we've talked to Niranjana about the ocean, showing her photos in Sunset magazine. She now talks regularly about wanting to go to the ocean. (Chennai is on the southeastern coast of India, so she has seen the ocean, we are certain).

Tonight, we popped in one of my favorite DVDs, Over Washington, a film (and accompanying coffee table book) produced by PBS nearly 20 years ago.

From the opening credits, Niranjana has been shouting, "Wow! Look! The ocean! The ocean! Look! Wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Yes, India has thousands of years of cultural history, but it's hard to contain enthusiasm for unadulterated natural beauty.

Update: The film just flew over the University of Washington. I said, "University of Washington! Boooooo!" Niranjana repeated the "Boooo!" with Cougar-like enthusiasm.