Tommia's Tablet

Trail of May by Tommia Wright

While April lent or lost itself to much fooling around (or foolishness, giving the way they intertwine), at least it can be said that new pages of photos were added, while the total post count was few.

The NaBloPoMo challenge focuses on the word “maybe.” With the group of friends who support me in recklessly weaving words, ‘maybe’ is too wishy-washy (although I did get away with a poem that began every line with it). With other folks who know me, ‘maybe’ was the swinging pendulum that was used as an excuse of why one never dared to jump the abyss (above which said pendulum swung). While April was filled with many foolish endeavors – some of which never saw the end of the finish line – May is the month where confidence and routine bloom strong again.

Surrounded by books (a fortress I will not surrender without a fight), I am selecting various lines, chapters, snippets that feature ‘May’ or ‘may’ or even ‘maybe.’ There might be a few songs and films to play with, too.

While today’s May Day brought a bright example of spring’s return, tomorrow brings back the regular rain. The post-April showers will not dampen my spirit however, as rested and revving to ramble about projects anew, May 2011 is the month of “Will Do!”

Double-Log Falls by Tommia Wright

(Sigh)

In looking at the relatively low number of entries this month, my first knee-jerk reaction was guilt. I’m good at that, practically a grad student in it.

The other night, a good friend of mine looked me in the eye and dared me to ‘slow down.’ As a recovering workaholic, that two-word combination is about as practical as a four-letter word like ‘rest’ or ‘play’ or a certain f-word like ‘fun.’ So, the challenge was on – trade yarn for yards of work. It was a challenge, but a fun one at that. The tasks I left undone are still there, I’m sure. The world hasn’t ended; this fool’s folly postponed another day.

There’s a particular trail I enjoy, one I used to walk daily. Lately, that has been a bit of a challenge, but managed an escape during the rain/sleet/snow/sunny day. This particular waterfall is my favorite resting point, a moment of pause to enjoy the best soundtrack in the world. Yes, I’m music-dependent, but the time found to relish the bird-song, the creaking of the branches and the sound of rushing waters hits the perfect crescendo with this falls.

So, as this week comes to an end, a renewed energy of creative posts beginning and finally remembering (thanks, friend!) to find that middle-ground of balance, time to enjoy what remains at a saner, slower, steadier pace.

I mentioned that this could be the month of folly. Well, for the first bit of it, I decided to ponder different undertakings that one would sanely choose not to do at the same time.

Maybe it wasn’t so much the combination of adventurous endeavors I chose but foolishly telling some folks around me about them. And once someone knows about something you’re doing, that’s when it’s too late to wish no one knew what you were up to because curious minds want to know.

Why do we sometimes tell friends, family, complete strangers (when one really isn’t paying attention) about challenges, classes, ‘crazy’ ideas? Is it for encouragement? Accountability? Who knows. Maybe it’s the hope that someone might talk us out of it before we go too far.

Granted this is a day late, and foolishly short (thank you WordPress for the opportunity of time manipulation).

A few quick findings about fools:

• There are 78 mentions of the word in the Bible
• Proverbs has the bulk of the references at 45
• Over 30+ songs with the word “Fool” in the title
• At least 300 quotes pertaining to fools
• 230 movies with the word ‘Fool’ in the title (this includes international translations)

And this found by one fool creating a new version of folly- how foolish.