Previously, blowing soap bubbles was an artistically complex process. I had to work hard: to begin with, beg for a bottle and a remnant of soap and patiently chatter thick soapy water; twisting the paper tube (thickness and taper were of fundamental importance for the outcome of the whole case) and carefully gluing it with saliva, carefully tear the wide end, and gently spread the resulting petals to the sides; then make several unsuccessful attempts, each time holding the stream of exhalation until the heartbeat …
And finally produce the first miracle. The miracle was great. Magically iridescent, the size of a large apple, or even a small watermelon, it reflected in detail the bushes near the house, and the trees in the driveway, and the blue over the roof, and the passer-by, and the dog, and you yourself – excited and jubilant. If, however, it was possible to shake it off the end of the pipe unharmed, the miracle, carrying with it the whole surrounding world, solemnly and smoothly flew from the balcony, only to tragically disappear in the end, leaving behind only a wet spot on a maple leaf or asphalt …
When I grew up, factory devices appeared: cheerfully colored cylindrical plastic bottles (like pharmacy ones), where a ready-made solution gurgled: all that was left was to pull out a plastic cork with a ring attached to it inside and carefully blow into it. The bubbles turned out to be small, and it was not possible to see reflections in them. But, as I noticed, these were numerous and durable bubbles.
Opportunities for creativity are not getting smaller – they are just moving to other areas.
Yesterday I saw a device that has stepped onto the next stage of evolution. The device was owned by a well-fed child of about five years old. I’m afraid this child will never have the idea of rolling straws and begging for remnants. What for? It is enough to pull the trigger – and the wind blower, built into a plastic unit the size of half a palm, begins to produce clouds of soap bubbles – strong as nuts and small as peas.
You can complain – that’s, they say, the trouble: what we created with inspiration, the current ones are simply stupidly producing. You see how: they will buy him, a loafer, a bubble-making machine, and he is glad to try. No to himself! .. But that would be unfair.
Firstly, one should not exaggerate the creative component of blowing into a tube – even if this tube is twisted out of paper by these very hands. In the end, blowing – it is blowing. No matter how punning it may sound, there is little inspiration in the blast itself. Everything else (soap, water and all technology in general) was also invented by someone else – some obscure genius whose name was lost in the dust of centuries.
Opportunities for creativity are not getting smaller, they are just moving to other areas. And the proof of this is the machine itself. In any case, looking at her, I personally cannot help exclaiming in awe. I should have thought of this!..