Every now and then our perceptions of reality are tested, and the mythical world becomes actualized. Each time this happens, the little child within us breaks free from adult confinements, and we begin to see the world differently. This is the exact phenomenon going on right now in Point Loma with the emergence of a mermaid. We are calling her Mishell, meaning “God-like,” for her beauty and mystical powers have navigated people to her throne atop Ross Rock off the coast of Sunset Cliffs since Memorial Day weekend. Is it coincidence that May gray vanished at the mere glance of her green tail and flowing locks? We think not. Maybe it is her siren songs soothing the souls of visitors, or her awe-inspiring capacity to bring consistently firing waves, but the vibe around the cliffs have been both peaceful and joyous.
“I think [she] is a piece of art. [She] definitely fits the OB vibe. I just want to know how [she] got up there,” said Greg Clinnin, a Pacific Beach resident. Visitors fear for her future. Mark Eimer, a San Diego resident, said, “I think the city will eventually take it down, but they should leave it up for a little to let people enjoy [her].”
“It’s great for tourism and [she] is art. We have lived here for 32 years and have never been to the cliffs, but talk of this mermaid drew us in,” Randy Sundberg said. “To people who want to take [her] down or feel this is vandalism, I say live a little.”
The Peninsula Beacon was able to confirm with park rangers that there are no plans to take Mishell down, and we couldn’t be more relieved. While mermaids are known for their beauty and enchantment, it comes in the form of vanity, and any test at their ego is detrimental to both people and their environment.
Among many powers, mermaids can manipulate both the ocean and weather to either our benefit or detriment. Urban legend tells the terrifying tales of entire ships lost at sea to the goddesses. They also possess telepathy with marine life, giving them a plethora of back-up if needed.
One shouldn’t worry too much though, as the true nature of mermaids are both loving and curious. While we don’t know the exact reason for Mishell’s sudden appearance, she may be attempting to learn about us as much as we are understanding her.
“I think this is a political statement,” said Roger Warren, of Point Loma. “Is it just a coincidence that Starbucks, whose mascot is a green mermaid, is having racial sensitivity training the same day [she] goes up? I don’t think so.”
We do not think that Mishell has any political affiliations or influence, but she may be trying to transcend our psyches.
“I wouldn’t call it art. I wouldn’t call it vandalism. I think that someone was just trying to bring some joy to the world,” Lucie Leonard said, a Point Loma local of 15 years.
Leonard was lucky enough to spot Mishell scaling the side of the 50-foot rock with assistance from her “servants” around 4:45 p.m. on Memorial Day. She said one of the men must have free-climbed the side and dropped a rope ladder for her highness to reach her seat. Leonard snapped three photos of this remarkable conclave. Mishell isn’t the first to perch aloft the notorious rock. In 2010, the numbers “2010” stood proud. Before that, in 2006, a peace sign was put up, only to be stolen and returned to the roof of the OB Hostel on Newport Avenue. Other royalty to grace the top of the formation includes a pterodactyl, an Easter Island head replica, a Christmas tree, and a toilet with a Raiders fan wedged inside.
Whoever was brave enough to assist Mishell on her conquest remains unknown, and their identities are as mysterious as she is magical. Rumors continue to spread including the idea that a group of tourists from Arizona not only helped Mishell, but the others as well, but the Peninsula Beacon was not able to confirm. Other thoughts include those similar to Gary Wasserman’s, who said on the Point Loma Connections Facebook page, “It is like a secret artist or society of artful people that have installed these sculptures both very large and small on top of this rock over many years, that is otherwise unclimbable.”
However Mishell got there, she remains, to kick off the summer and bring us closer to her home she holds so dearly, the ocean. With the potential of her departure any day at any time, take some time out of your day to witness her in all her glory. Mermaid mythology – The mermaid is one of the most popular figures in world folklore. Her characteristic appearance is as a nubile young girl, with long hair and a fish tail. Unlike the other part-human, part-animal creatures of folklore, mermaids have been the object of many sightings up to the present day. – The most famous mermaid to have been captured, the “mermaid of Amboina,” was found off the coast of Borneo in 1754 and is said to have lived in captivity for four days. She refused to eat, and made plaintive sounds like those of a mouse. – Where do the myths of mermaids come from? Somewhere in the later Middle Ages, the fish-woman mermaid supplanted the bird-woman siren as the creature believed to lure sailors astray, although in many languages words based on “siren” continued to be used for the fish-woman. source:?encyclopedia.com