Thursday, August 24, 2006

Un-born

Astronomers say Pluto is not a planet

What a blow! I have always identified with Pluto; it seemed a planet, as a child, that was destined for me to love it. Discovered on my birthday in 1930 by Clyde Tombaugh, who was only 24 at the time--a prodigy, just as my child self hoped I would be!--it was smaller than the other planets, distant, and a bit off-kilter.

Well, wouldn't you know--Pluto ain't a planet, and I ain't a prodigy. I guess neither of us is as important as we thought!

2 comments:

Michele said...

Two things:

1) WOW! Richard posted using the word "ain't"--a long-time grammatical error. I'm proud of you!

2) I was dismayed by the news as well. It will definitely make teaching about the Solar System very interesting this year!

Richard said...

My grandfather liked to say, "Ain't ain't a word." But he ain't alive to chide me for using it.

I would note that I used a non-grammatical construction for effect, whereas some of those I chide for their grammar can't be bothered to use it properly at all!