the burden of knowledge::part 2

Several months ago, we watched "Up". 

The airship in the movie inspired many questions about airships, including the question, "Why don't people use airships for commercial travel anymore?"

Which inevitably led us to the YouTube video of the Hindenberg disaster, with its wrenching black-and-white newsreel and desperate, heartbreaking commentary. 

After which, I put the subject away, as having been thoroughly (perhaps too thoroughly for our age group) discussed.

Last week we were here:

At the beach, poking around, finding odd things like the spiral-pasta-shaped bit of seaweed washed up among the rocks.  It was peaceful, really, soothing after the stress of moving, the endlessness of the road.  The gulls soared low, checking to see if we had any lunch for them before sailing on down the strand.  The children called excitedly to each other at each new discovery, and always the sound of the waves rose and fell in our ears.  A blimp sailed lazily into view, advertising insurance to beachcombers like us.  The children, facing downward, didn't see it.  "Look!" I called, "a blimp!"

My 8-year-old son stood straight upright.  His shell bucket forgotten, his face a mask of horror, he held his hands helplessly up toward the sky, "Oh no!!" he shouted above the sound of the waves, "Don't they know what could HAPPEN?!?"

And the subject was reopened.

~MB~

Comments

[heather j]

HA!