Send in the Clouds

               For as long as I can remember I’ve been fascinated by clouds. I don’t even know why really. I learned long ago in science class that they were just a mass of water droplets suspended in the atmosphere. But still, to me they are synonymous with imagination. They’re so captivating. They are so unlike anything else really, and yet, are so simple and commonplace that they should hold no interest to anyone. But they do. And, quite fantastically, I’m not the only person to hold this view. A while ago I found a group of like-minded individuals online: The Cloud Appreciation Society. The group is exactly what you would think they’d be; a bunch of people sharing pictures of clouds and talking about clouds. I find myself every now and again on their website watching their slideshow of the latest photographic additions to the site. I can watch the thing for half an hour sometimes. The pictures just seem really beautiful to me.

                When I’m watching clouds I have a reoccurring thought. I like to think what the first sentient thought about clouds might have been. These things have been floating up above every creature on earth for a very, very long time. But there had to be a time when a human, or ancestor thereof, looked up and thought: what are those? What are these things that have roamed over the treetops for eternities? It would be an interesting situation to be in; with no knowledge of what these things were, just knowing that they are always floating around.

                Perhaps they thought they were some kind of animal, flying up above like a big jellyfish in the sky. Perhaps they thought that’s where the gods resided and watched over the world below. Perhaps they thought they were gods. Or spirits. Or magic baskets with rain.

                Of course I am completely glorifying and romanticizing these thought. I can almost guarantee there was never a moment that occurred in the way I described above. But I like to pretend.  

                But the question remains: why do I associate clouds with imagination? Is it simply due to pareidolia? Is there more to it than just pattern recognition? Perhaps I was just indoctrinated as a youth to have that point of view. Think about it. Every time there is a cartoon or a drawing of somebody thinking or dreaming the thought/dream is always taking place inside a cloud. Coincidence? Probably. Ok, this blog has devolved into utter nonsense now. But I can’t help but feel like I may have had a concept in here somewhere. Damned if I can comprehend it though. Thoughts?