Dead Mermaids Society

As always, my dear twin Cryssie has amazed me today, this time by sending me a link to the following E-Bay auction: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=020&item=300006962914&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&rd=1#ebayphotohosting


I'm not sure how long it will be available for viewing, so, for the sake of preservation, I'm posting all of its contents here at "A Day With J". As you'll see (if you check it out soon enough), someone actually paid $1550 for what's supposed to be a mermaid carcass.

Here's the text that went along with the pics:

"While exploring desolate areas of Fort Desoto Beach at the southern end of St. Petersburg, here in Florida, I came upon a rather startling discovery. Before me lay what at first appeared to be a very large strange fish. Shocked and amazed, I realized I had found another mermaid or sea monster.
I went back to my car to get my camera. My hands were shaking as I tried to calm down to take these photos. This Mermaid or Sea monster, you be the judge, is a few inches shy of being 5 feet long. Laying on a fresh natural bed of seaweed, this creature of the sea looks out as if still alive. What killed this mystery from the depths? Recently in the news there was talk of another outbreak of Red Tide. Had this mermaid fallen ill from this mysterious dreaded disease from the sea?
Looking over her gracefull body, I realized what a special creature she must had been in life. Was she the missing link between primates and fish? In time, what would evolution had shaped this creature to be?
I sat there thinking for awhile and realized I must get this mermaid back home. I could always ponder later.
The winner to this auction will recieve the sea creature shown in the photos below. The photos have not been altered or retouched nor are they result of photo shop. The entire body has been determined to be covered in once living fish skin with scales. I have drilled a small hole in the back of the head so that it can be hung up on a wall for display."

Personally, I think it's great. It reads like an H.P. Lovecraft story - especially when the author uses phrases like "mysterious dreaded disease from the sea" and "mystery from the depths".

I do have to laugh, though, when I think about the part that says, "Looking over her gracefull body, I realized what a special creature she must had been in life...I sat there thinking for awhile and realized I must get this mermaid back home. I could always ponder later." It sounds like such a profound, life-altering experience...until you realize that this person apparently took the majestic sea creature home, "pondered" for a while, and then decided it would be best to sell it on E-Bay.

Another thing - aren't mermaids supposed to turn into sea foam when they die? I could be wrong about that, but I'm pretty sure that's how the legend goes. (Maybe the legend and the reality are two different things. )

At any rate, here it is, preserved here for all to see. It's a far cry from the mermaids you're probably used to seeing - Ariel, for example. Or Daryl Hannah if you grew up in the 80s. But, I figured it was worth taking a look at. For the record, no, I don't believe this is a real mermaid. But yes, I do believe we should be open to the many wonders left in this ole world of ours. Lest we forget, even the Bible mentions unicorns (Job 39: 9-10).

Thanks for looking. Buyer pays shipping.