Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Sunshine on a Cloudy Day

The song "My Girl" plays in my head as Amber and I gaze up at beautiful looking clouds on the way to school this morning.  Mind you, driving while gaping at the heavens isn't really advisable due to obvious road safety reasons; but gape we did with Amber recalling her types of clouds knowledge and so did I.  For the life of me, I still couldn't figure out why we were arguing about the different types and hers didn't really sound like mine, or what I do remember of mine back in the days when types of clouds are necessary knowledge.

She began with high-level, mid-level and low-level clouds which sparked my irk saying, "But those aren't proper names of clouds you know, like cumulus, nimbus, cirrus..?!" (Mind you these were the only names of clouds I remembered and nimbus particularly because I liked their huge, puffy, cottony shapes.  Perhaps the same types that inspired Joni Mitchell to write her song about clouds.

My daughter diffused my growing irritation before I could lament on the state of education these days by kidding, "What about the Nimbus 2000, mom?"

So this morning, as soon as I got off the car I took pictures of the lovely clouds blanketed all over Al Ain and went and Googled the different types of clouds.

I discovered we were both right.  Clouds are classified according to height and also have the names, ringing familiar like an old friend I have not seen in ages.  Amber is right and my faith in education is restored...for the time being.

Here's the photo of the clouds I've taken - most likely cumulus and mid-level :)

And here's a link to an older (but sooo much better) Joni, singing her famous clouds song, "Both Sides Now".



I may not know much about clouds still, but oh how I just love them!

Happy cloud-gazing day to you!