The Whole Earth News

Our house is on a hillside; small hills.

We cannot see far to the east or south because
the top of the hillside we are on rises in those directions.
Off to the west, the Tucson Mountains are tall enough
to peek over the hills between us. But north
we can see quite a long ways, to the Tortalita Mountains.

Mari and one of our grandsons--Jao--
pulled up two chairs, looking out and beyond
toward the Tortalitas. It is a pleasant view
over the wash down through our property.

Jao is three--almost four now--
so he has been studying cosmology and space science and optics.

"Look!", he said to Mari. "I can see the whole earth, and the whole blue sky!"

I am sorry to say that the earth is flat, again,
but you probably knew that, if you have been following recent
political and religious arguments.
I would show him how the curvature of the earth
can be deduced from watching a sailing ship, going away,
as it seems to sink into the sea until only its masts show,
but we are desperately short of sea and ships here in the desert.

I am saving my spare cash to send him into space
where with his own eyes he might see earth in orbit,
but truth be told, that has very little to do with educating him.
I want to hear the hum of gravitational waves,
and that requires more quiet than he provides.

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