To Paola (for sharing the journey) and
Nicolas (the captain of this ship) —B.A.O.
To Max (may you have many adventures) and
Jonah (watch out for whales!) —K.S.K.
The Adventures of
Blue Ocean Bob
A
J
o
u
r
n
e
y
B
e
g
i
n
s
by
BROOKS OLBRYS
illustrated by
KEVIN KEELE
Special thanks to Bob Proctor for his inspiration, Emma Walton
Hamilton for her editorial guidance, and the dedicated crew at
Greenleaf Book Group for preparing Blue Ocean Bob for the voyage.
Copyright ©2013 Brooks Olbrys
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means,
electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission from the
copyright holder. Blue Ocean Bob, Doc’s credo (“Think it. See it. Believe it. Achieve it.”), Children’s
Success Unlimited, and their respective characters and logos are trademarks of Children’s Success
Unlimited LLC.
Design and composition by Greenleaf Book Group LLC
Cover design by Greenleaf Book Group LLC
Illustrations by Kevin Keele
ISBN: 978-0-9829613-3-9
12 13 14 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Ebook Edition
Published by
Children's Success Unlimited LLC
521 Fifth Avenue, 27th Floor
New York, NY 10175
Printed in China
Chapter
1
Some Helpful Advice
T
here once was a boy who lived close to the sea
and daydreamed all day about what he might be.
His island was lush and his life wasn’t bad,
but he wasn’t content with the things that he had.
Bob said to himself, “I just know there is more.
This cannot be all that my life has in store!
Perhaps if I look for and find the right guide,
my days won’t just ebb and flow with the tide.”
His guardian, Xena, a blunt hummingbird,
was truly unsettled by what she had heard.
“Just where will you go, Bob? And what will you do?
Imagine the things that might happen to you!”
1
But Bob’s mind was made up and he knew what was best.
So he stepped in his boat and set out on his quest.
“I’ll ask the sea creatures if they can advise.
They seem to be generous, happy, and wise.”
The first one he met was a dolphin named Al,
who lived a full life and was everyone’s pal.
“What’s your secret?” asked Bob, “You’re so joyful and free!
Would you share your success and your knowledge with me?”
The dolphin just smiled. “Why, there’s no secret in it!
I simply appreciate life’s every minute.
For we are all given incredible power.
You have it right now, every day, every hour.”
Young Bob was confused by the dolphin’s suggestions.
It seemed that Al’s answers just led to more questions.
“Perhaps you should visit my teacher instead,”
Al advised when he saw Bob was scratching his head.
“He’s an elderly turtle and just goes by ‘Doc.’
But sometimes we call him the Sage or the Rock.”
Xena fluttered her wings and she squawked with dismay.
“I’m not sure we should venture quite so far away.”
But Bob thanked the dolphin and headed due east.
He didn’t heed Xena’s alarms in the least.
He rowed with intent and arrived at the place
where Doc heard the sea creatures pleading their case
for why things should be better or what wasn’t fair
or why life was hard and why Doc should care.
Now Doc, in his wisdom, had studied the greats
who had done brilliant things and determined their fates.
He had met with great whites, giant squids, and blue whales.
He had heard all their stories and read all their tales.
So Bob summoned courage and asked the old gent,
“Please tell me how to be truly content.”
Doc tipped his spectacles, gave Bob a glance,
adjusted his shell and rebuckled his pants.
Then he said, “We’ve just met, but my instincts are sound,
and the answer you seek is quite easily found.
As Al may have told you, you have it within.
Discover your passion, then simply jump in.
Decide what you love, what excites and inspires,
then make that your purpose and watch what transpires.”
6
Bob thought of the fish in the deep ocean blue
and the seabirds and sand crabs and jellyfish too.
As he pictured them all, he could feel his heart swell.
He knew what he loved, and he knew it quite well.
His passion was clear; he just had to pursue it.
Protecting all sea life—he knew he could do it.
“I’ll simply devote all my days to the sea.
A marine biologist!” Bob declared. “Yes, that’s me!”
“Oh, Doc, you’re the best! You’re so gracious and wise.”
Then Doc spoke some words that took Bob by surprise.
“You are on your way, Bob, that’s certainly clear,
but there is something more that I think you should hear.
Your purpose is set, but you’re still far from through.
You’ll face crooked pathways and challenges too.
So remember for each: Choose your thoughts, close your eyes.
Imagine your wish has come true—visualize!”
8
Bob took this to heart, shook Doc’s flipper and said,
“Thank you, kind sir. There’s a journey ahead!”
He picked up some clam shells, two oysters, a reed,
and he stuck them on top of his hat with seaweed.
“Come, Xena!” he cried. “I must get on the job!
The sea world awaits me! I’m Blue Ocean Bob!”
9
Chapter
2
A Clam Points the Way
B
ob knew that his purpose, his reason to be,
was to care for all creatures and life in the sea.
But how to begin? Which direction to take?
There were so many possible choices to make!
Xena the hummingbird meant to assist,
but she worried a lot (though she tried to resist).
“What if you fail, Bob? Just what if you blow it?
This ocean’s much bigger than you, and you know it!”
“Xena,” Bob said, “It is true, I could fail.
But you can’t leave the shore if you never set sail.”
11
Bob thought, “It worked once, so it’s sure to work twice.
I’ll ask a sea creature or two for advice.”
He wandered the beach and he spotted a clam.
“Excuse me,” he said, “I’m in rather a jam.
I’m lucky because I’ve discovered my role,
Is there a starting point you could suggest
to help me to care for the sea creatures best?”
“Yes, yes, yes,” said the clam, a nice fellow named Earl.
“You want to learn how to create your own pearl!
Do you see this one here that I have in my shell?
Well, it didn’t just happen (though that would be swell).
I came up with a strategy, followed a plan,
for fulfilling my aim to grow pearls out of sand.
“Finding your purpose is only the start.
Every good sailor must follow a chart.
So I’ll tell you the next thing that you have to do:
Develop a vision and follow it through.”
13
“What’s a vision?” asked Bob. “Is it something I’ll see?”
“It is more like a map to where you want to be.
And you’ll need to stay flexible as you go forth.
You might swing east or west, but your vision is true north.
Though the path is rarely straight, to the vision be true,
for all that you seek is likewise seeking you.
“Now, Bob, would you do a small favor for me?
It may just reveal what your next step should be.
Mary Marine is at work on the pier.
Please take her this pearl that I promised last year.”
“Gladly,” said Bob. “I’ll protect your pearl well.”
And waving goodbye to the clam in his shell,
he rowed to the pier, where Miss Mary Marine
was feeding some baby sea turtles sardines.
“Greetings, I’m Bob. I was sent here by Earl.
Apparently you have a claim to this pearl?”
“Oh, yes!” Mary smiled. “It’s a little bit late,
but the pearl is magnificent! Well worth the wait!
I work for the inn on this pier,” Mary said.
“But I also make sure baby creatures are fed.
And then as they grow, I assist them with that,
like finding a shell for this crab who got fat.
Although marine science makes me content,
my job with the inn helps to pay for my rent.”
17
Bob suddenly knew why the clam sent him here.
He needed a vision to make his path clear.
To develop this vision, his way through the maze,
he would research the sea creatures, study their ways!
But he’d need to get help from an expert, a pro.
Could that be Mary Marine? Maybe so . . .
Chapter
3
A Chance Encounter
A
fter his visit with Mary Marine,
Bob thought to tell Earl of the vision he’d seen:
to study the ocean and all of its creatures
with Mary as one of his mentors and teachers.
But as the tide started to ebb at its peak,
Bob noticed his boat had developed a leak.
He looked down and spotted a hole in the deck,
“S.O.S!” Xena shouted “Our vessel’s a wreck!”
Then out from beneath the precarious craft
came a walrus, who looked at them both, and he laughed.
“I’m terribly sorry,” he said, “that’s the truth.
But I seem to have punctured your boat with my tooth.”
“You can say that again!” Xena said with a shout.
“Just look at the damage you’ve done with that snout!”
21
Bob smiled at the walrus and put down his oar.
Then he asked him, quite calmly, to push them to shore.
The walrus—named Wallace—was glad to assist.
And knowing a chance like this shouldn’t be missed,
Bob said, “Tell me, Wallace, from your point of view,
how can I succeed in a job that is new?”
22
Well, Wallace just chuckled, his eyes opened wide,
and he giggled and wiggled and jiggled his hide.
He said: “Bob, it’s simple! As I like to say:
Don’t just do things; do things a certain way.”
“And what way is that?” Xena asked from the air.
“This walrus is not making sense, Bob. Beware!”
But Wallace ignored her (he’d heard that before)
and said as he scooted Bob’s boat to the shore:
“Set a goal from your vision. And if you believe,
you might be surprised by what you can achieve.
Pinpoint your desire and keep it in mind.
Then act in the present, and soon you will find
that tomorrow’s not here yet and yesterday’s past.
So take action today like it may be your last.
And remember, stay calm and be confident too!
As you head for your goal, it will head toward you.”
Well, Bob was amazed and gave Xena a wink.
A piece had been missing, but this was the link:
A purpose was crucial, a vision was key,
but a goal was the here and now of these three!
“Wallace,” Bob said, “There’s a girl on the pier.
I know my first goal! It is perfectly clear.
I’d like to assist her, learn all that she knows
about saving the sea life wherever she goes.
Whatever her need, whatever the role,
I’m ready to learn now that I’ve set my goal!”
Then, leaving his rowboat and oars on the sand,
Bob set out on foot to give Mary a hand.
As he walked down the shore he heard Wallace’s shout:
“A few final words, Bob, to help you, no doubt!
Don’t forget! In this life, you are never alone.
You need not do everything all on your own.
With your purpose now set and your vision so clear,
you can act on your goals and watch wonders appear!”
27
Chapter
4
The Magic Word
W
hen Blue Ocean Bob went back to see Mary,
a job application seemed suddenly scary.
He paused at her door, and he felt his heart flutter.
Then Xena, his confidant, said with a mutter,
“Oh, Bob, you’re not ready. You just do not know
what you will say to her, where it will go!
I suggest you delay it and take some time out.
You need to rethink this, clear up any doubt.”
Her words struck a chord. What if Xena was right?
His vision might never take form or take flight.
But then Bob remembered old Doc’s sage advice.
In order to “jump in,” he shouldn’t think twice.
29
So he went to the door and he gave it a tap,
and Mary came out with her satchel and cap.
She smiled, and before Bob could utter a word,
she said, “Welcome, Bob! Welcome, beautiful bird!”
“Thank you,” Bob said. “I have come back to ask
if you might need help with a project or task.
I would like to assist with your maritime chores.
I have plenty of time and a boat with two oars.”
“That’s terrific!” said Mary, “But first, I suggest
a small but imperative attitude test.
I have here a sensor for Tom, the blue whale.
I’d like you to locate him, then tag his tail.”
Bob thought of his boat in its leaky condition.
With no way to float, it was out of commission.
“I’ll attempt to do what you’ve requested,” he stated,
trying to hide that he felt so deflated.
“I told you!” said Xena. “You’re too optimistic.
Your vision and plans are
confused and simplistic.
And why did you say you had time and a boat?
You know very well that the thing doesn’t float!”
“Xena, you’re right.” Bob said. “What was I thinking?
Just like our boat, now my dreams may be sinking.”
With spirits so low, Bob set off down the shore.
And wouldn’t you know it? It started to pour.
31
Then who should they meet in the sand but old Earl
working away on his next master pearl.
“Oh, Earl!” Bob exclaimed. “It’s that Mary Marine.
She gave me a test I can’t pass, it would seem.
She asked me to go out and tag a blue whale,
but my boat doesn’t float; it will never set sail!”
“Ah, Bob,” counseled Earl, “the answer my friend,
begins in your thoughts, but there does not end.
Your thoughts trigger feelings, which lead to your actions.
Then they set the stage for amazing reactions.
Think of the negative and you will fail.
Think of the positive? You’ll tag that whale.
It’s the magic word ‘attitude,’ which, if it’s right,
will attract all the good that you have in your sight.
When you put it together, it’s simple but true:
Your attitude shapes the world’s image of you.”
33
“Attitude, YES!” Bob’s relief was immense.
Mary had said it—but now it made sense!
Then Bob had a feeling that came from a thought:
He might find a new way, as old Earl had taught.
He scanned the horizon over the sea
and spotted Al doing his flips, feeling free.
34
Bob yelled to the dolphin, “Hey Al, got a minute?
I now have a vision, and guess what? You’re in it!”
“At your service!” said Al. “Let me know what you need.
I am here to assist you with vigor and speed.”
So Bob waded out (Xena clung to his hat.)
Adventures of Blue Ocean Bob Page 1