This morning I read that explorers Christopher Columbus and John Smith reported having seen “mermaids” on their travels at sea (1493 and 1614, respectively). The sightings persisted into the 19th century. Marine scientists later postulated that the men might have in fact been seeing manatees or dugongs –– not maids.
Hence, today’s little funny.
Haha.
FO
Manatee are the gentlest of creatures. While living in Florida, we would often take our little sailboat to a shallow area on the Indian River to scrape the barnacles off the bottom. Manatee would swim around us as we worked and try to play with us. They are protected by Florida law, which is stringent with severe penalties for disturbing these animals.
Our sense of beauty has changed in the last 500 years. In Columbus’ day, a woman who was on the heavy side was considered robust and healthy and hence, beautiful. The waifish, figureless forms now favored in the Western world are a recent development, and during the Renaissance were considered signs of a sickly and weak woman likely to die in childbirth. Thus she was not desirable as a wife.
History lesson over.
However, I see that sailors have not changed much over the last few centuries… LOL.
Have a great weekend, girlfriend.
PK
I so knew about Renaissance women! I actually wish it was like that today, don’t you??
And small world that it is…I once lived near the Indian River too. And had a boat. And saw the manatees on the intercoastal. Where did you live? Did you tell me this?
Having a fab weekend, thanks! (One of the few left to me for awhile…)
We lived in Cocoa (*not* Cocoa Beach), just south of Titusville. Put our little 20-footer in at the marina in Rockledge. She was a swing-keel, so getting into those shallow areas was no problem. This was in the early to mid ’90s. Seems like an eternity ago!
I have often complained that I was born 500 years too late LOL.
We’re having a nice weekend too. Just saw the Sherlock Holmes movie. You’d like it.
PK
Well…I lived in Titusville. How about THAT for small world!! We had a little 18-foot Bayliner. Fished a lot in those waters. I caught a shark in 1997!
And yes, I must see Robert Dow…I mean, Sherlock Holmes.