Barbara Wynns, Keeping the Mermagic Alive

Dating as far back as 1000 BC, mermaids began swimming into the cultures and mythologies of Assyria, Greece, China, Europe, even the British Isles. While far from shy, mers can be finicky as to when and where they are seen by humankind. Indeed mermaid sightings have always been deemed a rare and beautiful occurrence — so much so, that charlatans have gone to extraordinary lengths to foist mermaid hoaxes on unwitting wishful mer fans. Even master showman P.T. Barnum got into the act, displaying a faux taxidermied mermaid in his museum in 1842. As for the recent staged documentary by Animal Planet, their enthusiasm is lauded, but information incorrect.

Today, sophisticated underwater cameras and everyday smart phones increasingly bear witness to the fact that, with or without gills, mermaids exist among good decent folk. To help ease tensions in current mer-human relations, in this issue our contributing urban fairy, Eleina Fae, will give the modern perspective on the subtleties and differences between merfolk, selkies, undines and the oft-misunderstood sirens. This should go far in educating even the most skeptical landlubber. You know the type — the ones who fail to understand why mermaids should obsess over shoes given their lack of limbs!

Our magazine's format is designed to offer this month's mermaid theme in sips rather than potentially drowning gulps. Being an online (versus print) publication, we can do things a little differently — and so we shall. Instead of publishing a voluminous collection of articles and tidbits all at once, we will post small portions of new content daily, with each themed issue wrapped up in one neat little digital package at month's end and available in various formats. Imagine that, a whole month of fabulous sireny delights. From fin fashion to the business of mermaiding, you're sure to get your mer cravings sated. What joy!

Our 'in every issue' categories include:

• History & Mystery - facts & fantasy • Sirens in Business - those making a living relating to the month's theme • Neverending Trending - news & don't-miss events • Prettification - home, garden, fashion, fitness, pampering, the works! • Foodie Fix - nummy recipes & eatery reviews • We Heart the Arts - books, art, music, poetry et cetera • Siren's Soul - testimonials & heartfelt sentiments from the field

Whether you place mermaids in the same class as unicorns and dragons, or think their mythology grew from sightings of Japan's traditional Ama freedivers, you'll find a whimsical, informative and loving treatment of all things mer this month. We look forward to celebrating la vie sirène (the siren life) with you for many issues to come.

Those were the first words I heard during my enchanting hour-long phone conversation with Barbara, a queen among mermaids. What follows are my questions and notes, roughly taken in between bouts of wonder and delight at everything Barbara had to say. If she'd never set a fin in the water she would still embody all that a mermaid should be—bright, generous, lively, good-humoured, and a genuinely beautiful spirit. What a thrill to share her thoughts and memories of her journey through Florida's famed fresh water springs.

What first sparked Barbara's interest in becoming a mermaid?

As a Floridian, she was blessed with childhood access to the state's fresh cool springs. At the wee age of 2, her father began taking her diving. When she was 13 she saw her first Weeki Wachee show, an hour-long spectacle with costume changes, tight-rope walkers, water ballet, all performed underwater. In the preinternet era, getting contact info was not the breeze that it is today, so after 2 years of research, young Barbara managed to track down a P.O. Box address for Weeki Wachee. The day after Thanksgiving of 1966, in her senior year of high school, she was granted an interview. It went so well that the day she graduated she moved onto the Weeki Wachee grounds to begin her career as a mermaid.

What was a typical work shift like?

"We were owned by ABC at the time; and we were called the '8th wonder of the world.' We were open 9am-5pm with shows on the hour. We usually performed 3 shows, with a 4th show done at time and a half. At the time, there were 32 girls on the roster. Now there are 12. Few roadside attractions have survived over the years. People worked there out of love to keep it alive. Now it is owned by the state and is the only underwater state park with an attraction." So its future looks promising.

Frolicking about in spring water may look easy but it takes skill and athleticism. What sort of training is required for a WW mermaid? -7-

The one, the only... Weeki Wachee!

Performers need to be scuba-certified to utilize the underwater air hoses. As for the time spent underwater, it was generally dictated by the length of a song and its choreography. The only real issue to deal with is the chill that sets in after getting out of the springs. But nothing a hot shower can't remedy. Her primary advice is, "Don't be afraid of the water. It's a thrill to be in there. It's magical."

What years did she perform with WW?

Barbara's record at Weeki Wachee is impressive for any industry. She performed 1967-69, 1972-75, and steadily since 1997. She also volunteers at their annual Sirens of the Deep camp "for the good of the park. We get all walks of life at mermaid camp. It touches hearts."

Over the decades, what sorts of changes has she seen?

Ever since the movie, Splash, tails have been more prevalent. When Barbara started, the act was of the Esther Williams synchronized underwater ballet variety, performed 15 feet below the surface with buoyancy control, multiple costume changes and air lifts. With Splash's popularity in the '80's, tails became all the rage.