Learning To Fly (Or at Least Faking It)
Interesting things happen at the most unexpected times.
Yesterday I was waiting for pickup after work, watching the sky and the clouds, when a gent walked up and said, "Were you out here about 7 PM?"
I said, no, I'd just gotten out of the store (it was then about 7:15-7:20 ish)
He then told me about seeing a plane going by overhead while he was watching the sunset, and noticing a small silver object under the plane pacing it. The place had a contrail, the second object did not. He said he watched it pace the plane until both it and the plane were out of sight. He added he was definitely bringing his camera next time, then wandered off, presumably seeking others who might've been outside at that time, or maybe just heading home.
I found myself wishing that he'd really seen something. I think i've managed to hold onto my sense of wonder even in today's world, where we're trying our damndest to explain everything that happens in a sound, logical, scientific way.
Not that there's anything wrong with science. I love science. I find it fascinating and wish sometimes I had more of a scientific bent. As it is, I'm just an informed layman who has some interest in things like quantum physics, sociology, and cryptozoology (if you dunno what that is, look it up, Frank =D).
But science tends to dismiss anything it can't quantify as being anything but the unexplained. It was a weather balloon (that old Air Force standby) or a reflection off the plane, or another plane seen at such an angle that it appeared to be pacing the first, or maybe the pilot still had his landing gear down. Or something.
Anything.
Anything but something that our science can't define and rationalize.
I found myself hoping that the guy would in fact bring his camera back someday, and that someday when he had it there would be someting hanging int he sky that no amount of tests or theories would account for. Something that no one could explain to him. Something that just WAS, in and of itself, a mystery.
Our world will be a sadder one the day all the mysteries are gone.
Yesterday I was waiting for pickup after work, watching the sky and the clouds, when a gent walked up and said, "Were you out here about 7 PM?"
I said, no, I'd just gotten out of the store (it was then about 7:15-7:20 ish)
He then told me about seeing a plane going by overhead while he was watching the sunset, and noticing a small silver object under the plane pacing it. The place had a contrail, the second object did not. He said he watched it pace the plane until both it and the plane were out of sight. He added he was definitely bringing his camera next time, then wandered off, presumably seeking others who might've been outside at that time, or maybe just heading home.
I found myself wishing that he'd really seen something. I think i've managed to hold onto my sense of wonder even in today's world, where we're trying our damndest to explain everything that happens in a sound, logical, scientific way.
Not that there's anything wrong with science. I love science. I find it fascinating and wish sometimes I had more of a scientific bent. As it is, I'm just an informed layman who has some interest in things like quantum physics, sociology, and cryptozoology (if you dunno what that is, look it up, Frank =D).
But science tends to dismiss anything it can't quantify as being anything but the unexplained. It was a weather balloon (that old Air Force standby) or a reflection off the plane, or another plane seen at such an angle that it appeared to be pacing the first, or maybe the pilot still had his landing gear down. Or something.
Anything.
Anything but something that our science can't define and rationalize.
I found myself hoping that the guy would in fact bring his camera back someday, and that someday when he had it there would be someting hanging int he sky that no amount of tests or theories would account for. Something that no one could explain to him. Something that just WAS, in and of itself, a mystery.
Our world will be a sadder one the day all the mysteries are gone.