As we drive across I80 in Nebraska, we are noticing a visual phenomenon. This is a case that a picture would be worth all of these words! But, at 60 or so miles per hour down the road, the picture cannot be taken.
So, words will have to do!
As we look at the many miles of corn fields, the stalks all appear to be placed close to each other with no apparent pattern. So, close that these fields are not planted, harvested, or worked on by human hands. There is not room between the stocks for the average human body. But, as we drive, we notice that at just the correct angle, very straight and perfect rows appear, with some space between them. These rows can go on for one or more areas of a field. But, the rows only appear for a narrow angle of vision. So, it is a lot like those books that we all enjoyed as kids (or adults!): The ones that you flip from page to page and the image changes. That is what these fields look like. As if someone is flipping each row as you pass it. Look ahead to the left and there are no rows; look to the right and there are no rows. There are rows only in that one area – that special viewing angle.
It was just amazing and mesmerizing to watch as miles and miles went by. It is also amazing what will intrigue the human mind driving down the roads in the heartland of the US!
