My mom happened to call when I was walking to the sea, the Pacific, in San Francisco. She'd never been there and told me to please 'spit in the ocean' for her. That was a little odd, but once I arrived at the beach, standing on a concrete platform, I honored her request. I leaned over and spat. In that second as my tiny offering touched the rolling water, I became aware of the enormity of ocean. I felt a great relief at my smallness. I appreciated my mom's wish.