13 Comments
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Jeannie Mecorney's avatar

Your story has brought back a wonderful memory from 2014. I went to Baja with a good friend to see the gray whale nursery lagoon. From a boat I reached out my hand to pet a baby and ended up with my hand in the baby's mouth. All of a sudden it looked like "tiny crabs" crawling all over my hand and arm. Seems they like to feed off the baby's baleen! I jammed my arm back in the water and scraped off the buggers. Still wouldn't have missed that baby whale for the world and wish I could see that good friend I lost last year.

Thank you for your stories. They always draw me in and feel so relatable.

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Lynn's avatar

A baby whale!

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Mariah Burton Nelson's avatar

Hi Jeannie, Oh my. What a memory. Yes, sounds a like crab or jellyfish larvae. Sorry about the loss of your friend, but thank you for sharing your whale story and letting me know the stories are relatable.

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PhDBiologistMom's avatar

Went through this once in the Caribbean. No fun at all. One of my fellow cruisers was hit so hard she had to spend the next day in her cabin.

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Mariah Burton Nelson's avatar

Yes. Sometimes you can feel them in the water like rice grains they’re so dense. I haven’t gotten symptoms beyond rashes & stings & disgust but - yeah.

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Lynn's avatar

Swim naked? Try Tecnu skin cleanser, works on Poison Oak/Ivy. Fun drawings!

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Mariah Burton Nelson's avatar

Thanks Lynn. Glad u like the drawings. You go first on skinny dipping & report back, ok? 😀

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Ellen Wessel's avatar

Laughing on dry land.

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Mariah Burton Nelson's avatar

😂 😂 😂

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Donna Druchunas's avatar

Thank goodness I’ve never experienced them. Fabulous art though!!!!

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Mariah Burton Nelson's avatar

Thanks, Donna. You've taught me so much about art - including anything goes, and by all means, have fun.

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Tina Carlson's avatar

Yikes!! I've never heard of this! Great description and so gross!!! Also! I love the drawings!

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Mariah Burton Nelson's avatar

Oh good. Makes me laugh to hear this high praise for grossness and drawings. :-) Thanks, Tina!

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