During a pandemic, one thing you can do is think a whole awful lot about things you previously took for granted. This can be human beings that you love, or, a possibility, rainbows.
It rained a few weeks ago, once, briefly, and when I walked into the front yard thinking simply to smell the clean air I found this.
A rainbow. Bingo.
And I thought about how, having of course nothing else to do, when we use the word “rainbow” as an adjective, we are referring the signature bands of color. (BTW, did you know that the rainbow is said to have seven bands in all? Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and purple. Why, we might wonder, do only blue and purple warrant naming their offspring? Why no peach? No spring green? But I digress. )
As I stood in the noticeably fresh morning light, I saw that the shape of a rainbow is as compelling as its colors. A spectacularly, almost unnaturally perfect arc. It’s goofy to use the term “unnatural,” given that this is Nature with a capital N. And yet I’ve never heard anyone call a perfect half-circle, “rainbow-shaped.”
All of which is to say, only, sometimes the depths of monotony give back. Flip assumptions. You too might now be seeing a few things through a pandemic looking-glass.
Have a wonderful weekend. I mean that.
22 Responses
Rainbows are truly amazing. Great picture. I hope you have a splendid weekend and I mean it!:)
@MaryAnne, Thank you:).
Gorgeous. And wonderful of the universe to share this moment with you. And for you to share it with us.
@Sibyll Carnochan Catalan, xoxoxoxoxox
O Lisa, you are so right. There are many silver linings before us, we just have to open our eyes to seeing them. Thanks!
@Theodore Bouloukos, You are very extremely absolutely welcome.
If you use purple rather than violet for the last color you will have to make up your own mnemonic. Roy G Biv (US) and Richard of York Gave Battle in Vain (UK). Wiki says Newton added orange and tertiary color indigo to match the 7 notes in a major scale.
@Terry, I didn’t even notice I’d made the switch from violet to purple! See! Familiarity;). I guess it would have to be Richard of York Gave Battle on Purpose. Cool to know about the major scale, but, how is orange something to add but green innate?
When I learnt Physics I was told that the colours of the rainbow are those which when blended produce so-called white light . Certainly they are the bands/stripes of colour you see when full spectrum/white light is split . I never heard that it was an “invention” of Newton’s to match music . But then can Wiki be wrong ?
@Rukshana Afia, I think that absolutely the colours of the rainbow are refracted light. I think the only question is, why did which bands get named as they did?
Love your photo! The first thing that came to my mind is the spectacular rainbow I saw in Scotland while.driving to the Isle of Skye. These times make it all the more important to remember the wonderful memories of places and people. Oftentimes they are the things that sustain me when I’m feeling pent up at home. Do you suppose we will look back fondly on our time spent close to home during the pandemic? I wonder.
@Marsha, Scotland…
I wonder if we will miss some of this. The closeness to those we live with, and so much less driving at least in my experience.
We are not through this yet but I think we are getting there. The election is behind us. The vaccine is in site.
Luci
@luci short, I feel that way too.
I was about to write something about stepping through the pandemic looking-glass and finding the poetry of William Wordsworth, but then I re-read the comments to this point and realized that something truly epic is happening:
We have gone from a rainbow in the sky to a rainbow on the way to Skye, by way of Richard of York (ie, III) and Sir Isaac Newton! Pretty soon, apples will start to fall upward and the Mad Hatter will be pouring our own cups of tea (perhaps with a bit of vaccine on the side?).
The rainbow connection. The Bard referred to “the lunatic, the lover and the poet” and Kermit the Frog to “the lover, the dreamer, and me” – who are we, when we step through the looking glass? All of these, and more.
Here’s to rainbows, wherever they are …
@Victoire, This is wondrous! All the connections. That Muppets rainbow song has always been one of my favorites.
Ah the old Roy G. Biv. I learned that in high school and taught it when I was a high school teacher. Maybe we should change it to Roy G. Bip. Ha. Have a great rest of the weekend. Lisa. And stay safe! xo
@Sue Burpee, Roy G. Bip. Ha. That sounds just about right to me;).
Ah but did you know if you see a rainbow from a plane it will be a circle!
@Jacqui, I did not! I would love to see that!
The joy of a rainbow. It is the constants that make my day.
@Susan, What a wonderful way to look at it.
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