Trips

There have been a few times when I realized I was on a trip of a lifetime, a one-time great adventure. But last week, when some friends left for their annual Caribbean cruise, and another was on vacation in New Zealand, I tripped on the sidewalk. From that I can at least report that a skinned knee and bruised hand are slightly less messy under layers of winter clothing. Some people trip over their own feet, as do puppies who have yet to grow into theirs. And, speaking of feet, I envy those agile folks who can trip the light fantastic out on the dance floor.

Those of us of a certain age remember, perhaps from first hand experience, a psychedelic trip or the use of the phrase, "What a trip!" Pay attention to news conferences and you may hear a question designed to trip someone up or a trip of the tongue in response to something asked. Life transitions, such as going away to college, represent life altering trips. Often these musings are a trip down memory lane.

On Saturday, my latest adventure began when the taxi driver texted to say he was here. I looked out and saw he was parked at the wrong address down the street. I called to tell him to turn around and come 3 houses down. He then couldn't get the car started. A kind neighbor drove me to the airport where, being the threat that I am, I was patted down and swiped for explosive residue. But the flight left on time, arrived early and my suitcase came off the conveyor belt.

Artists sometimes have a clear vision of the piece they are creating, but often allow the process to determine where and how the color, the words, the motions lead based on their starting point. This musing started with the juxtaposition of two kinds of trips and led down a path of common uses of that word, be it noun or verb. I was lucky enough this month, when I got antsy to be somewhere else, to have schedules mesh to be able to make a quick trip to visit family. 

As lovely as that is, I think one challenge we all face today is to find meaningful ways of being on this journey of life, of being an engaged traveler, a lifelong learner with companions that make us laugh and make us think. There are too many distractions, too many side trips available that are not helpful. I suggest that we all make a concerted effort this week to recognize one thing that we know trips us up in terms of how we use our time and resources and say, 'been there, done that' and focus on something else. Before too long, something may happen to cut this part of our trip short, and we need to make sure we've made the most of where we are and what we are doing now.

Marilyn