I was disappointed when I realized I couldn’t sit on clouds. I don’t remember what age I was or exactly how I found out, but I remember how disenchanting the whole experience was.
As a little girl I would stare out the window during car rides. My gaze ended up skyward and I’m sure I was in awe at how the clouds were just up there…in the sky. I imagined what it would be like to lay on one. I know my mind didn’t ponder the logistics of it all…like how would I breathe up there; or how would I even be deposited onto a cloud…I was kid and so for me there were only the clouds and my desire on be on one.
I probably voiced my desire one time during a car ride and instead of leading me on (like the midget house) my mom told me we couldn’t sit on clouds. Devastated. I don’t even know if it was my mom who let me in on the well-known fact that clouds are just vapor, it could have been my dad. All I remember is the disappointment.
I’m still saddened by that fact to this day. I’d love to get up on a puffy white one, have a jumping fit for a little while (as long as my bladder wouldn’t fail…childbirth), and then nestle in for a nice, warm nap–enveloped by what would have to be akin to the softest cotton, only softer. And lighter. The most comfortable sleep ever. Dreamy.
Not So SAHM 
Yeah, the skies are always such a great source of wonderment throughout our lives, but at no greater time than when we’re children.
I was 8 years old when the movie “Hook” came out. I loved the movie. I still love the movie. Anyway – after watching the movie I had a dream that I was sitting on the back of my dad’s gun metal grey Buick Regal, and all of a sudden I discovered that I could fly… Just like in Hook! I floated right off of the back of the Buick into the sky!
I was heartbroken when I woke up from that dream and discovered that none of it was real.
Nowadays I hate flying. *shrug* Maybe I wouldn’t mind it so much if I was in control 🙂
I still daydream about sleeping on clouds when they look especially fluffy :]
I still laugh at the midget house and cannot believe your mom did that…
How beautifully you write in capturing such a precious childhood dream, filled with wonder and possibilities. You’ve reminded me to pause a moment before blurting out scientific realities to my children – and let them retain their dreams for as long as possible!
Thanks for sharing,
Sarah
x
Oh, dashed childhood dreams. When I was younger I wanted to have about 5 jobs when I grew up (secretary, teacher, fireman, zookeeper, and maybe a couple of others). That’s a dream I’m glad I lost, whew!
I love, love, love the comment you left on my post about Christians voting pro-choice. I agree with you. I was actually really surprised with how many agreed with what I believe is the wrong position. Come by today when I put up the other side of the argument and help a sister out, won’t you?
OOOO me too! I want a NAP on a QUIET cloud! -maybe a “cooler cloud” nearby full of Cokes chilling 😀 Forget the whole childhood thing–that speaks to me NOW–HERE!!! Imagine how it would mould to you when you turn over-ANY position absolute comfort–NO pointy elbows etc etc etc hitting at that one moment when you reach sleep either 😀 High enough up that a “MOOOOOOM!!” would be wafted away n the breeze 😉
I’m still fascinated today when I fly through clouds on a plane. Somehow I remember the cotton ball thinking from my childhood.
I wanted to fly. I still do. Sometimes I think if I dream hard enough, it will happen. If not, I’m totally asking God when I get to heaven. “Lord, can I please fly?” Since He gives us the desires of our hearts, I’m certain He’ll let me do it.
I think that is a picture of my farm and my mountains in my backyard!
I think you right, that would be the most comfortable bed ever. Now I am a little disappointed, because no one told me I couldn’t sleep on clouds…
Ahhh, childhood. How do we ever make it to adult hood with disappointment in clouds and Santa and tooth fairies around every corner? I guess we learn to appreciate reality for what it is and to believe in clouds with silver linings instead of sitting on them:)
I’ll be including your comment that you left yesterday on my follow-up post tomorrow. Thanks for your input in the discussion!
I hate being disillusioned however, it is a necessry evil:-(
My disappointment was finding out that parents were not perfect. It was crushing to me. Happened around 8 years old. I have always told my kids that I am flawed and doing the best that I can and trying to be a Christian mom. I don’t want them to put me on a pedestal and be disappointed because I am WAY imperfect.
YES! I use to have those same thougts and was devastated when we learned in science it can not be done. Even now I can sit and stare at the sky and imagine how much fun it would be to sit on a cloud and watch the world below! What amazes me is that when an airplane goes through a cloud it creates turbulence…which still in my mind means they are thick enough for me to sit on and daydream!
Ahhh that sounds nice…sleeping or jumping on clouds…your right tho..only if the ol bladder holds up..what is with that..darn it..i give my body up 4 times to bring my beautiful children into the world..and I am left with a bladder that leaks when I jump, sneeze or laugh…I think I was robbed..LOL…cute post…I have an award for you on my blog 🙂
Vicki – Lovely post! Like you, I’ve always been a “cloud girl,” too. I used to love to lay on the grass and just stare up at the clouds and see pictures. But, just because you know the scientific “truth” doesn’t mean you still can’t sit on clouds now and then…in your imagination. I believe one of the keys to happiness is to never quite grow up!
When I was 7 or 8 the teacher asked us to write a little story about ‘sitting on a cloud.’ It was near Christmas and other children wrote about seeing the Christkindlein (Christchild) making beautiful presents for us with the Angels. The teacher read all the stories to us. Oh the fantasies the other children had! She also read my story – one sentence – and everyone laughed. I had written, “If I would sit on a cloud I would fall back down to earth because I am too heavy.”LOL I was not happy that fantasies eluded me and I had next to no imagination. However, I allowed my children to enjoy their fantasies until they realized things for themselves or started asking questions. It’s so amazing that we are all so different!
Oh – I know. I used to press the automatic garage door button in our car (for our aparment building garage) when we were out and about. And I’d imagine people looking at the door going up and down and thinking, “what the hell?” Not sure when I realized that the remote couldn’t operate THAT remotely.
Who knows, maybe you really can if you wished it hard enough :-).