I just want to make the perfect cup of coffee this morning and drink it watching the day slowly brighten to a pleasant grey. All the ingredients are here –- the kettle full of filtered water, freshly ground french roast beans, and a functioning french press. All I need is time and the patience to wait a full seven minutes for the grounds to steep. It would have happen as planned if I hadn’t glanced out the window and saw the sea otter.

Our friend’s Sitka home fronts waters where humpback whales, sea lions and otters often feed. Past stays trained me to look often toward Mt. Edgecumbe for sea life. Until this morning, only ravens and seine boats passed by on my watch. Now, six minutes away from coffee perfection the sea otter breaks the surface near the house and starts banging away on something with a rock.

Sea otters eat on their backs, like couch potatoes who happen to be floating up and down on the ocean swell. Wanting to watch and listen and take pictures I jam down the french press plunger, pour the weak contents of the press into a travel cup and head out side. Now I can hear the slapping sound he makes trying to free food from its shell. After finishing that snack he dives back for more. I sip my disappointing coffee and wait. He pops up fairly close to shore and rises half out of the water to measure me for danger. I must pass for he is soon on his back hammering and eating away.