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, 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 yellow wood, and I—
I took the one less travelled by,
And that has made all the difference.

-Robert Frost

Circumstances being what they are in my life, these days are ones of reflection and of seeking the truth inside of myself. The road thus far has been long, and pitted, and full of dangerous curves. By times there have been exciting hills, and wide open fields either side, full of sunshine and summer breezes. Though they may be brief and far apart, they have given me the strength to survive the steep and narrow paths through dark forests and around craggy cliffs. My current craggy cliff is not as scary as the one five years ago, but I learned a lot on that last precipice, and lost a beautiful treasure over the edge half way through the steepest curve.

I have learned not to be so careless with my valuables.

Going through my photos tonight, I stumbled across two images that brought immediate feelings of peacefulness and utter joy. These photos were taken on the happiest day of my life so far. At the first glimpse of these photos my heart skipped, and the day flooded back to me in rushing images. The winding country roads, the airstream trailor with the two-story addition and chicken coop in the yard, the wooden castle and dinner from a paper bag, enjoyed by the ocean side. There is nothing I would change about this day at all, except maybe the disappointing chowder that my fellow traveller had for lunch. The weather was beautiful, the company treasured, and the moment forever imbedded in my heart. I will treasure it always. If there was time travel, this is the day I would visit.

Tomorrow the photos get blown up and framed. Inspiration for the days to come.