Val, A few years ago XW and I visited our son. He met us in Williams, AZ and we traveled to the Grand Canyon for a few days. We took a short day hike down the Bright Angel trail. Late in the day standing on the south rim tracing our path the enormity of the canyon struck us.
To me this journey is like that. We will one day appreciate the enormity of it when we make it to the other side or back up the canyon wall. Until then we can only appreciate the path when we look back or when another having traveled here before gives us pause to look.
Another way this journey is like that hike is we each must put in the effort while carrying our own kit. I will share water and split another’s load. To do so they have to be on the same trail traveling in the same basic direction.
On this journey my XW decided to hike a different trail. She may someday marvel at the enormity of this effort. To do so she must complete her own hike and make her own discoveries. I must trust she will be safe and make those discoveries. Not to find her way back rather to find her path to herself, for she must do so to find her peace and only then will she begin to truly look inward.
Do what you need to do for you. You cannot carry her load for her. She is on a different path. Even if she were on the same path taking all of her load alters her experience. To my thinking it lessens the experience.
Oh and I want in with May’s husband also. A verbal lashing keeping within the finest traditions to start. If that does not motivate a knife strike across his throat giving pause to think.
BITS Me 55, ACK, when did that happen? Doesn't feel like 55 D 30 S 27
You create your own universe as you go along - Winston Churchill
