The term "flying on cloud 9" originated from military flights. Cloud types are classified by numbers . . .with "cloud 9" being a very tall thunderstorm.
Hmmm...that makes perfect sense...since the clouds we were taught about in school were cumulus...stratus...cirrus...nimbus...cirrostratus...altocumulus...nimbostratus...stratocumulus...fair weather cumulus...cumulonimbus... contrails...billow clouds..mammatus...orographic...pileus clouds...and last but not least nubes number novem clouds...or as they're commonly called in the military Etiam adipiscing caelo nubes (that's latin for very tall thunderstorm cloud) Of course having been in the military...in particular the Air Force...you know the ones responsible for airplane flight and pilots...and I remember on several occassions sitting around at the base bar listening to the pilots chatter on and on about cloud 4 incidents and cloud 12 encounters but I don't think I once overheard any of them extrapolate about cloud 9 moments...however I have heard the terrm used and to me it makes no sense...now I know it's not my Momma's fault that a portion of Today's Tidbit is incorrect...that blame goes to the original author and his/her piss poor internet research skills...the term cloud nine is a classification given to very tall thunderstorm clouds but not by military pilots...it actually originated with the U.S. Weather Service...the term..."being on cloud nine" is most commonly used to explain someones blissful reaction to an event...comparing that person to being on top of the world since cloud nines are the tallest of all white puffy sky consuming pillowy things...however very seldom have I seen cumulonimbus (cloud 9) clouds turn into blissful events...they usually end up unleashing a torrent of rain along with thunder and lightning ...a very mood and brooding cloud to say the least...so that in the sentence..."When he proposed to her on bended knee, she immediately accepted and the rest of her day she seemed to float on cloud 9" could mistakenly be misinterpreted that the young bride to be was ecstatic, excited, blissful, euphoric...while in reality it relates a bitter truth...that poor bastard has no idea the life long monsoon of marital madness he is about to endure...the tornado like torrents he must run and hide from once a month...the Hurricane of hell he must abide for making the mistake of leaving the toilet seat down...which is a topic all itself...who in the hell came up with that little 'rule'...here's the deal ladies...if your arms aren't broke you can just as easily lower the seat to use it and lift it when you're done...and don't gimme any of that 'it's a man's duty' mambo jambo we invented the damn things for you...to us they're just a damn nuisance you lady's feel the need to bitch about...you wanted equal rights...raise and lower the damn seat when YOU need to...it'll help keep your ass dry! Now back to those clouds...all too often the english language provides us with these little moments where certain terms and words are improperly defined to mean the exact opposite of what they should...but in this case I think the meaning was actually a cleverly hidden message forewarning all those who seek the 'top of the world ma' status of the catastrophic consequences one is sure to endure when falling from such a height back to reality...marriage isn't all blissful, white, billowing, soft, and caressing...all too often it's like that movie "A Perfect Storm" you ride around the big old ocean in a little ass dinghy...thunder, lightning...monstrous rogue waves...hoping and praying you can hold on long enough for it to end!!!
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