Top Kill Method Fails to Stop Gulf of Mexico Oil Leak

My stomach is in knots. Today, BP announced the failure of the "Top Kill" method for sealing the oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico. "We have been unable to overcome the flow from the well," said BP Chief Operating Officer Doug Suttles, in a press briefing. "We now believe it is time to move on to the next of our options..."
(See Top Kill Method Fails to Stop Gulf of Mexico Oil Leak)

Pensacola's Beaches Destined for Destruction?
The worst oil spill in U.S. history is looming out my window. From my office, I can see Santa Rosa Island and the Santa Rosa Sound. With the failure of the top kill method, even the best optimists in town feel defeated. We fear that Pensacola's beautiful beaches are destined for destruction.

Mother Nature Presents a Gift: A School of Stingrays
Two nights ago, my husband and I took a trip to the beach to enjoy the beautiful sugar-white sand on Pensacola beach. Kicking off my flip flops to walk in the warm Gulf of Mexico water, I had no idea what a treat Mother Nature was about to bestow. I looked about ten feet from my feet and spotted a dark, triangular object skimming along the shore. I looked closer and realized that there were, literally, hundreds of them in front of me; stingrays feeding along the shore. I giggled like a little girl, and called for my husband to come see the stingrays. I walked along the beach with the stingrays for about thirty minutes.

Slideshow: Pensacola Beach & School of Stingrays

I'm sharing these photos of the beach and the stingrays for my friends in far off places, so that you will understand the heartache faced by those of us lucky enough to live on the gulf coast. What will happen to the beautiful beaches of Pensacola? What will happen to the stingrays? Will our beautiful beaches and abundant wildlife be relegated to a mere memory of how it used to be?

Memories of the Gulf Coast Before the BP Oil Spill

I know that I'm not alone in my concern. Many of you have fond memories of the gulf coast. Jeff Curtis grew up in Louisiana and now lives in Lake Oswego, Oregon. In his emotional guest column at Oregon Live he asks how BP will compensate us for the stolen memories. Jeff writes, "BP says it will pay all legitimate claims. Somewhere on a spreadsheet there may be a calculation for the loss of revenue at Sara's Restaurant for not being able to get seafood for its gumbo, the loss of patrons because there will be no more sport fishermen or birders. But how will they calculate the loss of the bilingual culture tied to the islands and marshes... And what about us? Will they compensate my siblings and me for memories that can no longer be tied to a place?"

I wonder, how will BP compensate for the memories I planned to make? I have dreams of taking my future grandchildren, the ones I nag my children to hurry up and create for me, to play on Pensacola's beautiful white sand beach. That grandmother dream of bathing suit clad grandbabies, dancing on the beach, collecting white sand dollars, and building glistening white sandcastles is fading to dark oil spill muck.

Optimism Fades As BP Oil Spews and Hurricane Season Looms

Our optimism has failed with the failure of the top kill approach. The harsh reality is setting in; oil is still spewing into the Gulf of Mexico, and the next attempt to stop the oil is just another untested pipe dream. Oil flows, and a fierce 2010 hurricane season looms. What will happen to Pensacola's beautiful beaches? What will happen to the stingrays?

Online Sources:

Top Kill Fails to Stop Flow of Oil From Gulf Leak
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704254004575274433337222768.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_LEFTTopStories

Pensacola's Beautiful Beach & A School of Stingrays
http://www.associatedcontent.com/slideshow/53446/pensacolas_beautiful_beach_a_school.html?cat=9

Jeff Curtis at Oregon Live: he Gulf oil spill: What price on a memory?
http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2010/05/the_gulf_oil_spill_what_price.html

Gina Covell Maddox is a writer and professional speaker. She is the author of, "The Working Woman's Rant & Rave Guidebook: Audacious Advice for Handling Everyday Workplace Challenges That Make You Want to Scream." She lives in Gulf Breeze, Florida.