Musings

"What then", she pondered, was an adventure? Was it, as J.R.R. Tolkien famed Bilbo Baggins had said, simply stepping beyond one's front door? Or, was an adventure only so named upon later revelation, perhaps by a proclamation not even your own. In her mind, she made no conclusion but let her thoughts drift fancifully along, from trepidation to boldness, and cautiousness to excitement. She wanted to think she held no illusions about her imminent journey, but the truth was, she was full of them. Her fancy drew her toward vast and vividly created scenes in which tried to foresee all the possible places she would go, people she would meet and even, what she would say in carefully crafted words. She hoped they would be kind and wasn't quite sure what to do if they weren't. In fact, she knew the more unpleasantly type of person would confront her at some point and she hoped, with an added silent prayer as extra measure, that she would do what was right at the time and all would end well. So, you see, she yearned for adventure and was apprehensive at the same time. She was, like most of us are, a walking contradiction; full of yearning, courage, fear, faith and insecurity. Yet, unlike a piteous many, she would venture those first great steps beyond her own front door.