The story of the Bucktooth PelicanTM
As with all good stories, this one begins with, once upon a time. I was born in May of 2008 at Edisto Beach and I immediately noticed that I was different than all of the other baby pelicans. I was smaller, I looked funny and my feet were different than all of the other baby pelicans. I didn't have as many feathers and my wings were small. But, as a baby pelican, all the grown-up pelicans said I had a cute smile! As I grew, I could tell even more that something was wrong, really wrong. I started to grow teeth! And, these weren't just some small teeth, they were great big buck teeth! That is when it happened. All of the other pelicans started to leave me out of their games and stuff and wouldn't let me hang out with them. So, I started hanging out with the people of Edisto Beach! But, here is a secret ~ they didn't know I was hanging out with them! You see, I like to stay hidden and out-of-site. That way, I don't draw a lot of attention and I can still hang out with people! I like to keep Edisto Beach clean and safe and, so, if there is something I see on the beach that looks like trash, when no one is looking, I will fly down or run up to it and pick it up and take it to the nearest trash can where it belongs. That is why I like it when people help keep my beach clean ~ it helps me, too! Also, even though I try to stay hidden, since I do spend a lot of time around people, I decided that I would disguise my foot-prints in the sand and that is why I wear flip-flops! That way, no one can track me down or follow me because everyone wears flip-flops at Edisto Beach! And, here is a secret only you will know because I only tell it on my website ~ each year I wear different colored flip-flops! (This year, they are blue!). So, you can try and spot me at Edisto Beach but chances are I am too well hidden. But, every once in a while, I slip up and someone sees me! Will it be you? Who knows.... but, you can't see me if you aren't looking for me, right???
So, please help me keep Edisto Beach clean and safe and, while you are away and until you come back next year for your vacation, I will do it for you.
Thanks for stopping by!
the Bucktooth PelicanTM
Now, for the truth: A group of friends were vacationing on Edisto Beach as they normally do each year. However, on this particular occasion, May of 2008, something different, very different happened. It happened one night when they were all playing a game on the front porch of their house. This particular game involved a person having to describe something and the other players having to try and guess what they were describing. Well, it was becoming rather comical with all of the people playing and all the things that were being said. It was T's turn to do the describing.... so, she started off with the clues.... it has fur.... it lives in the water..... it has buck teeth... when all of a sudden, one of the players shouted out, "Bucktooth PelicanTM!" and everyone started laughing hysterically. So, the next day, and for the rest of the week, it continued... sitting on the beach, we kept a look-out for the Bucktooth PelicanTM, keeping the joke going.
Since we all went back to Edisto Beach again in July of that same year, one person made up some "Bucktooth PelicanTM" t-shirts for everyone - and pretty much everywhere we went wearing those shirts, people asked, "What is the Bucktooth PelicanTM?" So, the story evolved from there that the Bucktooth PelicanTM is an elusive little pelican that was pretty much the "runt-of-the-litter" and, much like Rudolph, the rest of the pelicans at Edisto Beach wouldn't have anything to do with him or let him join them. Having nothing left to do, the Bucktooth PelicanTM began hanging out with the people of Edisto Beach - and having a good time. But, this little guy stays out of site and is rarely seen by people. But, he is always there, watching and making sure people have a great time at Edisto Beach. He is a very strong believer in keeping Edisto Beach safe and clean - since it is also his beach! And so the story goes....