Maree’s musings

A WALK in the PARK.

You may recall a ‘musings’ from months back concerning a maritime journey through life. Not always plain sailing, as we discovered. So, you think: it’s a relief to be back on dry land. But maybe this is not so. For a start, arriving on shore ‘all washed up’, to coin a phrase, is Not a Good Start.

But here we are, and must press on. Life is an unknown territory, and it’s helpful for progress to have direction and a clear path. Some information about pitfalls along the way is useful too. Historically, pitfalls were real holes in the ground to catch unsuspecting animals, but you get the picture. Directions are sometimes dubious and no use if you come to a dead end. Straying off the ‘straight and narrow’, although it can be good fun at the time, can get you bogged down. John Bunyan’s The Pilgrim’s Progress, which I’m old enough to have read, mentions ‘The Slough of Despond’ which may have been inspired by Squitch Fen, a slushy bog which Bunyan had to cross on his way to church. Even the name sounds messy. Just keeping to the path and making progress is also difficult if you’re weighed down with cares or a heavy heart. So many factors before you even start.

Of course, you’re bound to come across the occasional bump in the road: it may be only a molehill but they can look like mountains. The journey then becomes an uphill battle [particularly with no weapons to hand] to get to the top of your game. At last! From the summit you can see for miles but still may have no idea where you are. And from now on it’s downhill all the way (and probably a slippery slope as well).

Manoeuvres to avoid. Sitting on the fence; which won’t get you anywhere and is damned uncomfortable. Keep off ‘the back foot’ as well: a batsman playing safe takes a step back and merely stops the ball. Makes for slow progress, if any. Having a foot in each camp will get you nowhere fast either.

Then there’s the unfortunate occasion when you seem to be taking one step forward and two back. This is downright dangerous if you’re being pursued by a bull – even a metaphorical one. We’re lucky if we have clear skies, but if the way leads into the forest, getting lost is on the cards. You can’t see the wood for the trees and a scream for help (like the philosophical falling tree) is silent if no-one is there to hear it. The modern annoying equivalent is being out of cellphone coverage or nowhere near a coffee machine, of course.

The edges of your chosen path may signal danger. Have you found yourself between a rock and a hard place or facing a cliffhanger which, by the way, may be nowhere near the edge of a precipice, but is scarey anyway?

Having one’s feet on the ground is purported to be a Good Thing; unless of course, you’re grounded (for misbehaving, that is). The old adage ‘slow and steady’ has become unfashionable with the pace of modern life, and is frustrating with looming deadlines up ahead. It’s OK to be up to speed, but going round in circles – avoid.

Occasionally, a tunnel is the only way forward. A light at the end of it is very encouraging, unless it is from an approaching train!

A fork in the road? You have to choose; Robert Frost advises:

‘Two roads diverged in a wood, and I – I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.’ I’ve never worked out how, but sounds lovely!

A birthday card message I saw once went like this: “Aunt Bertha turned 90 and decided to walk five miles every day.” And then …: “We have no idea where she is.” RUDE!

So we’ve learned about the perils of the sea and the risks of land travel: should we spread our wings and take to the air? Is flying the way to travel? HHHMMM! Good luck with that.