The Waving Girl

One of the risks of being quiet is that people can fill your silence with their own interpretations.

Sophia Dembling

From a young age, Florence Martus was captivated with the ships that sailed through the port of Savannah. She begin to greet them with a wave of her handkerchief as they passed by. Once started, she continued greeting the ships for 44 years.

Eventually, her brother moved to Elba Island as the lighthouse keeper and Florence joined him. Located on the Savannah River this was a perfect place for her to continue her practice of acknowledging the ships. During the day she waved a hanky and at night she would swing a lantern. Florence became known throughout out the world. Ships would blast their whistle and wave to her as they passed.

The reason for her actions became the talk of Savannah. Many believed she was waiting for a young ship’s officer, with whom she had fallen in love, to return to her. Many years later, someone asked her why she greeted all the ships. Her answer was that she was bored. Living on an isolated island with only her brother for company this was understandable. No romantic love story, she was just bored.

In 1972 a bronze statue of Florence Martus by well known artist Felix De Weldon, was erected on River Street along the bank of the Savannah River in her memory.

As I was writing this post I came across the quote by Sophia Dembling. We are often eager to explain other peoples motives for them. Instead of allowing them to live their lives without explanation.