Ray Rasmussen: AGE OF ENLIGHTENMENT

Eratosthenes, a Greek astronomer, determined that the earth was a sphere and calculated its rough circumference in the third century BC. By the 15th century, most educated people in Europe had abandoned the notion that the Earth is flat.

Enlightenment on the matter only came to me this week when I purchased a silver bicycle with narrow tires that had the look of being very fast. But nothing, as it turns out, in my prairie city is flat. Even small inclines constrain my speed to just above a slow walk.

I can't be blamed for not knowing. Mostly I've viewed my city through the windows of airplanes and cars, whereas many ancients lived near an ocean where they could see the tall ships approaching, the mast top appearing first.

On today's ride, two kids zip past on an uphill, gleefully sounding their warning bells and yelling "You're almost there!"

downhill race—

neck to neck

with a jackrabbit
.

.

by Ray Rasmussen
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
first published in Blithe Spirit 18:1, March 2008