What the heck?
That was my first thought, before I did the double-take. I was looking at a headline. Looking at it – which is different than reading. Used to be, I could glance at headlines or chapter headers or billboards and take in the entire content at once. Well. That ability has slipped away, apparently.
Here is what I thought I read.
CHINESE SPACECRAFT FLIES BY AUSTRALIAN TOURISTS
Now, that’s a headline worthy of the National Enquirer, enough of a grabber to rationalize buying the scandal sheet.
After my second look-over, I realized my eyes had tricked me. It actually said:
Chinese Spacecraft Flies by Asteroid Toutatis.
Not nearly as interesting, but it makes more sense – at least to astronomers and gazers at the heavens. I have no idea whether flying by ol’ Toutatis is a significant accomplishment or even a good thing.
I also have no idea why my eyes have starting converting words out of my regular vocabulary into phrases more comfortable. It’s sort of like those rogue spell-checker correctors that makes changes to your text messages without you realizing it.
So far, I haven’t thrown myself under any buses as a result of these innocent mis-readings, but undoubtedly one is in store down the road.
In the meantime, my brain is hoping to hire a scout leader.
Oops. Make that – proof reader.