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One day a few years ago, I was at the pool talking to one of the lifeguards. I was telling her how swimming laps graces me with a serenity and stillness I get nowhere else. "That's what the Harlem Mermaid says," she said.
"Hmm," I nodded.
Wait ...
The what??
1/6
One day a few years ago, I was at the pool talking to one of the lifeguards. I was telling her how swimming laps graces me with a serenity and stillness I get nowhere else. "That's what the Harlem Mermaid says," she said.
"Hmm," I nodded.
Wait ...
The what??
1/6
Turns out not only is there a mermaid living in Harlem, but this mermaid and I swim at the same pool.
I spent the next three years looking for the Harlem Mermaid. But it was always "She was here this morning" or "You just missed her" or "She'll probably be here tomorrow."
2/6
I spent the next three years looking for the Harlem Mermaid. But it was always "She was here this morning" or "You just missed her" or "She'll probably be here tomorrow."
2/6
Two years ago, I tracked down a doc film on mermaids in which she's prominently featured, so I learned her name, what she looks like, who her husband is, and how she became a mermaid. But that movie was as close as I got to seeing her.
Until yesterday.
3/6
Until yesterday.
3/6
I was at the pool talking to a lifeguard (yes, the same one) when out of the corner of my eye, at the far end of the pool, I saw the sunlight glint off a wide golden fin just before the fin disappeared under water.
I gasped.
The Harlem Mermaid! SHE'S HERE!!
4/6
I gasped.
The Harlem Mermaid! SHE'S HERE!!
4/6
I swam over to her. I introduced myself. I fangirled. I told her that I'd been looking for her for years. We talked about the movie. I asked her if I could be a mermaid. Long story short --
She thinks I'm great.
I think she's magic.
We're meeting today at the pool
5/6
She thinks I'm great.
I think she's magic.
We're meeting today at the pool
5/6
