Have you ever noticed just how much literature– both poetry and prose– is devoted to endings? Even Frost: “Goodbye and keep cold” rings in my ears a lot lately.
It’s been a delightful several years, my writing to you and sharing odd things and poems and other random musings. “The time has come,” as Lewis Carroll’s Walrus tells us, “to talk of many things….” But that’s not it really, either, but it’s also not T. S. Eliot’s “not with a bang but a whimper” at all. I’m not that dramatic, at least, not usually (though a M*A*S*H “Goodbye” comes to mind).
What I’m saying is Thank You. I have appreciated the opportunity to muse aloud, albeit digitally, about things that I find interesting, and I’m gratified to know that some of you were interested as well.
A friend’s blog post recently sent me back to childhood, with my dad reading a chapter a night to me from The Wind in the Willows. I was too young to read it myself, maybe age four or so, but I was captivated and comforted by nervous but willing Mole, and carefree Ratty, and stern and efficient Badger. And O, the foolish and troublesome Mr. Toad. The adventure starts and ends with Home, and that’s something that I am reflecting on a lot lately. We are told to go forth, but also never forget where we are from. Good advice, I think.
So, I will do that. I have some personal projects to follow, one of which is working on the manuscript of my (first? only?) chapbook. I have a lovely grand-daughter who needs me to read stories over and over again, and together, we will be exploring the Wild Wood and the wonders and dangers that it holds. These are adventures that call to me.
I want to close with the best words I can think of:
“Take the Adventure, heed the call, now ere the irrevocable moment passes!’ ‘Tis but a banging of the door behind you, a blithesome step forward, and you are out of the old life and into the new! Then some day, some day long hence, jog home here if you will, when the cup has been drained and the play has been played, and sit down by your quiet river with a store of goodly memories for company.”
― Kenneth Grahame, The Wind in the Willows
Take good care of one another. I wish for you wise words, good company, and a few wonder-filled days.
CMG
The Frost Place 