Rabbit Holes
by Lira Wren
Doo doo doodling...
How many of you have gotten lost down a rabbit hole?
I found myself researching the diving speed of penguins versus puffins — well, you know — because, facts. Knowing my puffins rule, I decided to compare puffin speed to penguin speed. Omitting the outlier of the Gentoo penguin — who can swim as fast as 22 mph — puffins swim faster. Go team Puffins!
While researching, AI kindly listed penguin speeds by species. One penguin name caught my eye — macaroni! Other than imagining pasta recipes, I fell into a rabbit hole. I asked, “Why on earth did someone name a penguin macaroni?”
Turns out, “macaroni” was a term given to men’s attire in the 18th century. It signified men who were considered accomplished because they took the Grand Tour of continental Europe, learning various cultures, mannerisms, fine arts, architecture, and more. These young British aristocrats were especially fond of Italy, where they found a new food: macaroni — something not found in England at the time.
Hence, this over-the-top fashion style became known as “macaroni.” You could even say it became a kind of Macaroni Club — a group of young, well-traveled Englishmen who prided themselves on their flair and worldliness. Because macaroni was new and exotic, the name was their way of showing off their refined taste.
Still — what does that have to do with naming a penguin?
Turns out, this dapper-looking penguin was dubbed macaroni because of its flashy, feathered brows — reminding someone of those stylish young men. And dapper it is.
Of course, by then I was thinking of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, and then Jane Goldman and Matthew Vaughn’s movie Kingsman. A certain someone I know has a crush on Colin Firth (and she’d kill me if I said her name, so I won’t 😉),— but that got me thinking of her and scribbling her a note.
I reached for my journal... but all that macaroni talk made me hungry.
So instead, I pulled out my phone, looked up a pasta salad recipe, and headed to the kitchen. I propped it up on its SwAY HEYven stand and started fixing my pasta salad for dinner.
Once I’ve filled my belly, I’m going to begin my doo doo doodling — now that I know why Yankee Doodle stuck a feather in his hat and called it macaroni...
Got a Rabbit Hole Story?
Drop it in the comments; I’d love to get sidetracked.
And when you're ready to doodle your own detours...
Head to the shop and pick your journal and phone stand.
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