IT'S TIME FOR ANOTHER I WONDER
(which I haven't written in a LONG time!)
I wonder how many people (adults and children alike) still look up at clouds and find joy in "seeing" various things: animals, objects, faces, etc.
I've enjoyed doing that for many years and I believe it's one of my favorite simple pleasures, but I had no idea there is an actual word for it: Pareidolia: (par-i-DOH-lee-a) Seeing Faces in Unusual Places.
Various websites can easily be found, explaining more about it, and it really is an interesting subject, to me, anyway!
So, why am I writing about Pareidolia in my "I WONDER" post?
WELL, this afternoon I washed out Vern's food and water bowls with an SOS pad, and then instead of throwing it immediately away, I put it aside on top of a paper towel. Then I finished rinsing and drying, and put the bowls back on the floor.
When I looked back at the used SOS pad, I laughed out loud, because this is what I saw:
From this angle, I see a cute, little animal face, like a baby seal.
From this angle, I see a scary face: scary eyes,
and a screaming mouth.
* I promise I did not touch the pad or change it in any way. I just took the top photo from an angle and this one I took straight on.
I wonder.....what do YOU see??
I still watch clouds and interpret the shapes I see. I hope I never stop.
ReplyDeleteI am obviously in sentimental mode this evening. I saw your seal, but your scary face struck me as a lonely face - crying for attention.
Hi EC! I'm so glad you're a "cloud watcher" too! I can also see the lonely face you described in the SOS pad.
DeleteI see precisely what you see. Wrote an essay on pareidolia back in 2011, November, I'll go get it: http://trainrideoftheenigmas.blogspot.com/2011/11/word-list-9-pareidolia.html#comment-form
ReplyDeleteIt's an amazing idea that opines the "man in the moon" was carved at random by billions of years of meteor collisions.
Hi Geo! Long time no see!! Thanks so much for stopping and commenting, and also for the link. I really do want to read it, so I'm making a note to myself ! :)
DeleteI used to see faces in the older car grills.
ReplyDeleteI can understand that!
DeleteI don't spend as much time Cloud Watching as I used to, but I still can't help myself when I'm out driving (of course, this works better when I'm a passenger), but even when I'm driving and stopped at a red light, I'm often scanning the clouds.
ReplyDeleteThe top SOS pad looks like an old guy with rather large bulbous nose and a slightly confused expression. In the bottom one... yep, the silent scream. yikes.
Robin, thank you so much for stopping and commenting!! I do the same as you....even when driving, if I see unusual clouds, I just HAVE to keep looking.....but I also get my eyes back to the road every now and then, too. LOL
DeleteI love your description of both SOS pads!
Ha, I thought sure you saw Donald Duck. I did!
ReplyDeleteThat's funny, Claudia! And yes....I can see Donald in that first one, too!
DeleteIt took me awhile, but I did see the baby seal.
ReplyDeleteHi Donna! Thanks for stopping and commenting! Love getting your input, too.
DeleteThank you for my Sunday morning laugh!
ReplyDeleteHi Deb! Thank you SO much for stopping and commenting...AND I'm so glad I gave you your Sunday morning laugh! LOL
DeleteI thought if you add 2 big round ears that the first one looks like Mickey Mouse.
ReplyDeletePat
Critter Alley
Hey, Pat! I can also see Mickey Mouse in the first one!
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