June 11, 2008


Of Beavers, and a Curious Simile

This recollection harkens back to a time years ago, when I had a professional (and genuine) interest in exploring and documenting the history and culture of the Land Between the Rivers (southernmost Illinois, that is to say — not Mesopotamia-as-was). A couple of my fellow explorers were over on the Ohio River side of the region, seeking out something or another of historical significance (as I recall, evidence of the so-called Hopewell Culture).

And they came back and told me of their adventures.

“And then — ,” she said, “we heard something that sounded like people were throwing refrigerators into the water.

“It was beavers.”

posted by Sheila Ryan in anecdotes, animals, archeology, history, language, technology 

comments

6 Responses to “Of Beavers, and a Curious Simile”

  1. Jonathan McNicol on June 11th, 2008 at 2:23 pm

    Well that wasn’t at all about what I thought it was gonna be about…

    I enjoyed it nonetheless.

  2. Sheila Ryan on June 11th, 2008 at 2:27 pm

    That’s the way it is with those curious similes.

  3. Cindy Scroggins on June 11th, 2008 at 7:16 pm

    My all-time favorite simile: Her breasts were like — really big.

  4. Cooper Renner on June 11th, 2008 at 9:50 pm

    “Six or eight thousand years ago
    They laid down the law

    In Mesopotamia”
    –B52s

  5. Sheila Ryan on June 11th, 2008 at 9:56 pm

    Always did like that “six or eight”.

  6. Alek Lindus on June 12th, 2008 at 12:57 am

    BIG gap between ’six or eight’ and between beavers and refrigerators…
    mind the gap

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