Date: Wed, 4 Dec 1996 09:11:25 -0500 From: if the tink is a boojum? Subject: FILLER: Circle The Wagons? The Wagon Train (Sorry I'm not keeping up with the latest internecine intrigues and exchanges of bile, liver, and other tempers, but connectivity has been terrible. Incidentally, I was wondering if anyone had thought about tissue rejection and other problems of organ transplantation in relation to this business of exchanging humours? The new organ is doing fine, but the patient was exhausted? How many nurses does a roomful of patience take, anyway?:-) [let's not think about the organ trans plantation...with the fields of organ trans spreading their odd fruits over the rich black dirt...nah, let's not think about that...] In the quiet plains of my mind, though, I've begun to see our joint enterprise as a kind of wagon train setting out on a trip. Some folks have fancy rigs with lots of supplies; others just have a mule, a drag sled, and a lot of will. There's a lot of noise and jockeying around, learning to ride those rigs and live together for now. As we go along, some turn back, sure that the train will fail without them or just unwilling to trade the comfort of home for the excitement and risks of new horizons. Others turn aside or head for their own places, seeing something near or far that calls to them. Some stop, too tired to fix that broken wheel again, or too enmeshed in fighting to notice that the train is moving on. And yet... there are those who settle in and work, checking and mending their harness, rubbing down the horses, doing all the hundred and one things needed to keep rolling on the trail. They're ready with a helping hand because they know help comes back with extra interest, while revenge and hate just come back. The wagon train isn't heading for a particular destination, it may seem to be going in circles sometimes, and progress may not be as fast as a lone roughrider can make, wearing out chaps and horse without thought. Still, there's some comfort in knowing that when the mud gets deep, someone else can lend a shove, or when the night seems dark, someone may be there with a song and a lantern to lighten the heart... Keep an eye on the landscape. Sometimes it's flat for as far as the eye can see; other times the mountains jump up to greet the clouds. There's lions and tigers and bears (oh, my!) out there, and other fearful creatures. There's even squirrels and prairie dogs and kiwis and such... It isn't really a finished thought, yet, but I thought I'd share the illusion of the wagon train with you. Heck, some of you might want to circle the wagons for a tale or two, or just stroll along with the wagons for a while, stretching legs that have gotten sore from setting... You know, I could swear I heard a pale blue ox crying somewhere... *wink* tink