Here we are in August, and it’s time for the annual Perseid meteor shower. The word “shower” implies there are a lot of meteors and it occurs to me that this might be a bit of an exaggeration. Well, OK, it’s a huge exaggeration. I do realize there are stories of long-ago times when people covered their heads and cowered in fear as the sky rained down hundreds of meteors but you know, for me those stories seem a bit far-fetched and have a raised-eyebrow George Santos-like smell to them.
I think the term “meteor shower” should be changed to something a bit more representative of the long, long minutes waiting for something (anything) to happen. I might suggest, for example, we change it to “meteor soccer game,” or “meteor fishing,” or “meteor slot machine,” something that really captures a person’s feel of anticipation slowly turning to exasperation and finally to checking their watch.
A few more examples might be “meteor Doctor’s waiting room,” or even “meteor I’m on hold.” You’re just waiting and waiting and nothing happens. Then of course just when you turn away to pick up your drink or swat a mosquito, the crowd around you goes ,”WOW, THAT WAS COOL!!” and the wait for you starts all over.
It’s like being on the wrong side of the boat on a whale-watching tour.
For me personally I’m just going to change it to “meteor JEEZ, come ON!!” And then enjoy the rest of the night sky while I’m at it.
Mike Stevens
Park City