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Wednesday, August 10, 2016

Rocks vs. Clouds

"What one do you like the best?" Miriam asked when she came home from school. "Rocks or clouds?"

"I don't know," I said. "How was your day? Do you have homework?"

*******

"Which is better?" she asked while she ate her after school snack. "Rocks or clouds?"

"I really don't know," I said. "They're both so different."

******

"If you had to choose one," she asked as she put away her ukulele, "Would you choose a rock or a cloud?"

"It depends what for," I said. "If I wanted to break a window I'd probably choose a rock, but if I was hoping for rain I'd probably choose a cloud."

******

This went on the entire afternoon and I really couldn't figure out her fascination with rating these two seemingly arbitrary items. After dinner, however, we went on a family walk and it all became clear.


"That's a cirrus cloud!" Miriam said, pointing to a wispy cloud over our heads. "Those are the clouds up in the atmosphere. They don't do much. Nimbus clouds are the ones that rain. So I'm pretty sure it's not going to rain very soon. I'm pretty good at telling the weather."

She's doing a weather unit at school right now.

"That's an igneous rock!" Rachel said, pointing out a small stone sparkling in the sunshine. "You can tell because of the way it's shining." She bent down to pick it up. "Ew!" she shrieked. "That's not an igneous rock! That's a slug!"

She's doing a unit on rocks at school right now.

******

I might not know for sure if that cloud is a stratus or a cirrus or if that rock is igneous or a slug metamorphic. I'm certainly not clear on my preference between rocks and clouds.

But this much I can tell you: I love both Miriam and Rachel very much.

I have a feeling that was the essence of Miriam's questions.

Who do I like best? Miriam or Rachel?

I don't know.

Who is better? Rachel or Miriam?

I don't know; they're both so different.

If I had to choose one, who would I pick?

I don't know! They're both wonderful and interesting and talented in their own special way. I'd choose both of them. They're both favourites.

2 comments:

  1. I wonder if you have ever read “A Tree, A Rock, A Cloud” by Carson McCullers, and if you were influenced by it in this post?

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    Replies
    1. I had not read it until I looked it up just now. :)

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