What does Pliny’s Natural History have to do with unicycling, you ask? The common link, as it turns out, is yours truly.
According to Pliny’s Natural History, the dolphin can be charmed by singing, but cannot sing itself. I can relate.
The dolphin could make noise and make some of the sounds used in singing, but it could not sing. This however did not prevent it from having a passion for music.
Now to unicycling. I can unicycle. Well, sort of. I can ride a unicycle without falling off as long as the surface is relatively smooth and the turns are wide. But I am charmed by the things that others can do on a unicycle that I cannot. My ten year old, like most of you, has a plethora of things he can do on a unicycle. He plays hockey on a unicycle. He plays basketball on a unicycle. He rides mountain bike trails on a unicycle. He jumps obtsacles. He rides across logs over creeks. He juggles while unicycling. He can he even eat his lunch, disobey his mother, and torment his younger brother, all while riding a unicyle. And I am charmed by it all. More than just an interested observer, I am drawn in by it.
When a group spent 21 days this summer riding Cokers through the Alps, I was charmed. They had a website they updated daily. I read it. Everyday. It wasn’t exactly a vicarious thing, where I was unicycling the Alps through them. It was more just something I was mesmerized by.
I know if I practiced more, there would be more I could do on a unicyle. I might be able to do some longer distance rides. I might be able to be part of the shows. I might be able to do some of the easier trail riding. And I will. But for the time being, I am content to watch my son and be charmed, like Pliny’s Dolphins, by something I cannot do myself.
Okay, Jethro, I considered responding, but decided not to but will now.
While I as much as the next guy appreciate the Pliny reference - note to self, read some Pliny - the analogy to me just wasn’t that strong.
Barring major leaps in evolution - or the snap of the fingers of some intelligent designer - dolphins will never sing nor come close.
You, however, codgerly though you may be, can certainly attempt and in some cases even succeed at some of the unicycling stunts that now merely charm you. As even you yourself said.
While I enjoy many of your posts as well as your wit, this thread was just not that compelling.
Isn’t singing in the ear of the beholder? My pastor father-in-law always thought so and was easily the loudest hymn-singer in church on Sunday mornings even though everyone else thought he must’ve been on the wrong page of the hymnal.
