How amazingly far normalcy extends; how you can keep it in sight as if you were on a raft sliding out to sea, the stitch of land growing smaller and smaller. Or in a balloon swept up on a column of prairie air, the ground widening and flattening, growing less and less distinct below you. You notice it, or you don't notice it. But you're already too far away and all is lost.
The passage reflects on the concept of normalcy and its fleeting nature. It illustrates how, as one drifts away from what is familiar—symbolized by a raft or a balloon—the perception of normal life diminishes. The imagery evokes a sense of isolation and the inevitability of distance from one’s roots.
This loss of normalcy can happen subtly, as one may not fully realize how far they have strayed until it's too late. The metaphor emphasizes how easily one can become disconnected from their previous life and the accompanying feelings of longing and nostalgia that arise from this separation.
