100 Years of Divergent Paths

Hi guys, Rebecca with another dose of Poetry Corner.  This year marks the 100^th anniversary of “The Road Not Taken,” the well-known Robert Frost poem responsible for generating a million Hallmark posters of country roads that hung on college dorm room walls (including mine, natch). 

This poem is the epitome of decision-making – this way, or that way?  The clear way, or the hard way?  And does taking that less-traveled road really make all the difference?  In our case, yes.  We started our story journey back in 1990, on the way to Florida, on the heavily traveled I-95.  We spent many, many years writing cover letters and basically begging for an agent to read our work.  They wanted “published writers.”  So this year, we took that less-traveled road of self-publishing, and this poem took on a whole new meaning, and we won’t go back. 

Without further ado, I give you the marvelous words of Mr. Frost.

THE ROAD NOT TAKEN

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim,

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

Thanksgiving Nut-Case

Ah, "Writer's Block"...two bad words for an author, and also the reason the blog hasn't really been recently updated.  'Becca and I are both suffering from it for the moment, especially with all the running around trying to get ATSBN-2 up before Black Friday.  We've been wracking our brains trying to think of what to write for the Thanksgiving holiday that wasn't a regurgitated Who-hash of smarmy, feel-good, blah, blah, blah.  I'll admit it's not my style.  'Becca does better with that!

Now, all that being said, I'm so ready to eat some bird that I wanted to cook it a week ago!  However, I held off, because by next week I'll be "birded out" with leftovers!  Even with 24 people coming for the holiday there will be leftovers, trust me.  

Yo, Squanto.  Gimme the acorn squash.

If you had read one of my earlier blogs (Autumn), then you know I'm in my element.  Fall, winter, cooking, the holidays - I'm in!!!  And although our beliefs of the first American Thanksgiving are actually pretty off base, the fact is, we have a holiday that brings us together that isn't deeply based in a religion.  Now the concept of Thanksgiving isn't locked up by Americans.  It is actually celebrated in several countries around the world, with most of them not at the same time of the American holiday.  The bulk of them are harvest holidays observed in October.  And don't worry - this is as far as the history lesson goes.  (I can feel my own brain going numb.)

BUT - and that's a big but - we Americans seem to take this holiday like we take all our others, very, very seriously and with the same verocity as eating a pound of smoked maple bacon.  (Mmm, bacon.)  So many are polarized for/against the holiday being folded into and/or overrun by the Christmas season.  For a lot of other places, Christmas follows Halloween so they go from one to the other.  

If they wanna do it, let 'em do it.  Just keep walking.

I don't care either way.  I look at Thanksgiving as the practice feast for Christmas.  I'll serve the turkey with the tree in the background.  It most likely won't be decorated yet, but it will be up.  (My Christmas cards are already written and addressed because if I don't do them before Thanksgiving, I won't have two seconds to do them once Christmas shifts into full gear.)

What I'm trying to say here is take from this holiday the fellowship and the fun.  So what if the neighbors have their Christmas lights up?  That's THEIR business and THEIR preference.  If it's not for you, then just keep your home the way it is.  But don't vilify them for it.  Let everything else hang.  It's not worth stressing over.  There are far worse things in the world that could happen.

Now give me a moment as I will fall into a smarmy feel-good mood (insert Very Special Episode violin music here).  Having spent the bulk of my life in service to others, I will touch on one thing here, and that is to help others around you who may not be able to help themselves.  More people pay attention to this concept at this time of year but it really needs to be in our hearts and minds year round.  Donating time, money, or food can easily be done.  A little bit here and there year round is an easier task than slamming it all into the end of the year...trust me because I have no time at the end of the year.

No matter how you celebrate - or when, for our non-American friends and fans - the fact is you are having a gathering with friends and family in homage to all the good things in your life.  Being happy is a matter of choice, perspective, and belief.  Look for the positive even when things turn to shit and you will find it easier to cope.  So grab a giant piece of homemade pumpkin pie with a massive blob of whipped cream, sit back and relax...and HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

- Rya