A Fish Tale Come True

Ever want to be a mermaid?

Me neither, but I must be in the minority because people all over the world are fascinated with these mythical creatures.    And why not?   Who wouldn’t pray to be guaranteed gorgeous?   (Have you ever seen a mermaid with fat thighs and a hooked nose)?   And they’re ALWAYS in love.   It’s  a romantic image for women, but men, too, are drawn.

(A note to men:   They’re only female from the waist up.    Be careful what you wish for).

Still there’s an enchanting innocence about the mermaid that has fascinated folks for thousands of years.   How’s that for staying power?

The Little Mermaid, Denmark

Hans Christian Anderson published his fairytale, “The Little Mermaid ” in 1837, and a statue in her honor was completed in 1913.  Today it still sits in a Copenhagen  harbor and remains one of the most popular  attractions in Denmark.

In 1989 Disney released, The Little Mermaid , but Splash came out  five years earlier with Tom Hanks and Darryl Hannah.   If you want to know what a hit Splash was, think of the thousands of little girls growing up with the name Madison.   And we can’t forget Weeki Wachee Springs State Park.   The old Florida attraction just celebrated its 65^th year in business, and business talks.

  

Last weekend Orlando celebrated the mermaid with a Mer-Palooza convention.    It was a two day affair that included a pool party and pageant, and mermaid lovers flocked to the city.

“I don’t have a tail, but I would really, really like  one,” said Sloane Shaffer, a twenty-four year old  attendee.    She regretted her budget didn’t allow for one  now.

    

But if you save enough dough, you can buy a custom-made tail from Mermaids R Us.   Opened a year ago, the store specializes in outfitting tails, tops, and accessories.  Each tail costs $1250 and takes a week to construct.  Owner Sandy Hoaglin created the costumes for Jimmy Buffet’s latest concert tour but receives most of her orders from plain people,  like a farmer in Nebraska.

During last weekend’s event, Enid Montalvo  took three hours to prepare.  The seventeen year old wore blue eye  makeup, rhinestones near her temples, a hair accessory decorated with shells, and a T shirt featuring Ariel from Disney’s Little Mermaid.

“’Mermaids have been my obsession since  I can remember.  …they’re like free-spirited, and fun and they’re beautiful and I’ve always wanted to be one."

Unfortunately, the price proved too steep at this time, and she settled for a few scales glued to her leg.

No worries, the ancient myth lives on, and the world is happier for it.