When I was younger, I went through a phase where I was obsessed with clouds. I read up on the different kinds and studied what made them different. I’d proudly display my knowledge and point up to the sky as I noted the presence of a cumulus cloud or stratus cloud. Cumulonimbus clouds were my favorite. It’s a fun word for a nine-year-old to say, spell, and understand and it was a reflection of the times in my young life where I had agency over what I learned and how I applied it.

My obsession with clouds has cooled, as many obsessions from our youth do as we mature, but just a couple of months ago I was sitting in the backyard and looked up for what felt like the first time in ages. I noticed how quickly the clouds were moving and mused about cloud speed for a few minutes as I watched them dance, twist, stretch, and grow across the sky. Then, I picked up my phone and looked it up. (Average cloud speed is 30-40 mph, by the way).

Curiosity.