By Judith Deutsch | Photos by the Author

As an older adult, I can still remember my years as a “tween,” visiting Will Rogers State Beach in Pacific Palisades/Malibu with my parents and friends—too young to drive and too old to hang with Mom and Dad.

Imagine my surprise last weekend as I approached a large group of youngsters and adults gleefully watching the antics of “tween” and mature sea lions, clustered on and around the docks alongside Burton Chace Park in Marina Del Rey, displaying the same behaviors we did on those lovely beach trips a half-century ago!

With spring and a blustery touch in the air, our “tween” sea lion pups were frisky—shoving each other off the docks, barking uproariously, and up for a dip in the channel harassing the ducks diving for lunch. They were adorable and we loved watching their shenanigans.

Like our parents in the ‘60s, the adult sea lions had escaped the roughhousing, hustle, and bustle of the boisterous pups by moving farther up the dock and hiding out behind a rowboat and various anchored vessels, where they enjoyed an undisturbed snooze and basked in the sun. Occasionally, a precocious junior would venture along the dock and attempt to climb over Mom, Dad, and company, receiving a whack from one of the adults.

Sound familiar?

I love experiencing how “tweens” will be “tweens” no matter the species! We ended our afternoon walk just blocks from the sea lions along the Ballona Wetlands pedestrian and bicycle path adjoining Fishermen’s Village, where parts of the latter are in danger of being commandeered for homeless housing. The area is peaceful and frequented by egrets, herons, hummingbirds, and assorted wildlife. Although I am a herd animal, like the rest of the human race, I appreciate having the opportunity to seek out moments of raucous activity or meditative silence in the natural world around us. These are areas we need to defend and protect from encroachment.

Judith Deutsch is a bit of a renaissance woman. She began her career in art conservation at the J. Paul Getty Museum, continued on to a career in fundraising for the arts, education and healthcare, is an artist, educator, historian, editor, ghostwriter, nature lover, bibliophile and world traveler, and is starting a personal chef business. She sails and is a hunter-jumper horsewoman.