We all know this tale in one version or another, and it fascinates me how this captured our imaginations. I was reminded a few days ago by an extraordinary double rainbow, which I could see both ends of and everything in between, that rainbows are lovely, beautiful and hopeful (they almost make the rain worth it), but how did someone come up with the idea that if you find the end of it, you will get a pot of gold?
Even though we are supposed to know that, of course, this is impossible, when I was about 10 or 11 years old, I saw one of the most vivid rainbows that I can remember. It also happened to seem the closest rainbow I had ever seen; just a hundred metres or so away, by the swings on the other side of the playing fields. Caught up in the moment, excitedly thinking that I could be the little girl that breaks the curse and reaches the end of the rainbow, I ran full pelt to where I saw it touch the ground. When I got there though, all I could find was litter and grass - definitely no pot of gold - and the rainbow had moved on to the other side of the houses. I was so disappointed at the time, and still see the rainbow in my memory so clearly that I don't think I will ever forget it.
Now, in all my wisdom, I know that you will never reach the end of a rainbow, because it is a refraction of light, and the bouncing of it to your eye (so scientific, huh?) will only work from a certain distance. I feel proud that I know the basic science of it, but it is also saddening that the tiny little joys and excitements seem to have been taken away by growing up. Childhood ignorance definitely seems to be bliss to me now.
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