Many things in life are not as they seem. You grow up believing certain things in life are true and then "bam" someone changes everything.
One of the Grasshoppers talked to me at Deb & Tom's wedding reception last Saturday. She told me everything I wanted to hear. Her car payments were coming to an end and she was going to put the money from the payments in the bank (when payments ended) so she could save up for a large cash payment on her next automobile. How sensible. How practical. How smart. Then the following Monday evening she went out and bought a new car (actually 2 years old). Did I miss something? I guess everybody was happy. I heard what I wanted to hear and she got her new car.
Well today the Planet Pluto was taken off the official list of Planets. There are no longer 9 planets. Every text book I had as a kid talked about the exciting find in 1930's of a 9th Planet. So my whole life has had Pluto in it. Pluto was a cute name. A stupid puppy who played with Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck had a planet with the same name. I guess they decided that Pluto was too small and without significant rings or orbiting moons. It is just one big cold asteroid. Again things are not what they seem. One day there is Planet Pluto, the next day it is consider a "dwarf Planet". I guess it just didn't measure up.
I can't help but wonder about Uranus. Isn't that now the most distant planet from the Sun? If they ever take that off the official Planet list, it will sort of be an "Up Uranus deal". I don't know if I can handle that.
So Grasshoppers, hang on to the sides of your bed tonight because you are in danger of waking up in the morning and significant "truths" will be different. You thought the "Big Bad Wolf" in the fairy tale Red Riding Hood was just a fictional character. He may be real and terrorising Grandma's everywhere! You think that the Green Bay Packers will have a competitive team this fall. It is not as it seems. You think Beliema who now coaches the UW Badgers will have a credible football team and he will carry on in the tradition of Barry Alverez. You silly fools.
My advice is remain skeptical (yep, as I am). Believe things when you actually experience them yourself. And then, and only then be prepared to have your heart ripped out when someone dumps Pluto to dwarf status.
Love,
Dad