Looking at the Map

Hello Everybody,

It is weekend again and I fear I won't get many words written today or tomorrow. I don't feel too bad about it. In the last 2 weeks I've made more progress than in the 6 months before that. My proverbial car is zooming down the highway with little resistance or obstacles. It has been a smooth ride with wide open landscapes until the horizon and the sun shining down on my head as the wind blows through my hair. Even the Muses have relaxed in their incessant singing, taken to the backseat to give the occasional comments on 'are we there yet?' and 'I need to pee'.

So with passing the 100 grand milestone, I celebrated by taking a step back from the steering wheel, pulling over for refreshments at a run-down gas station and checking the map to see if we're still heading in the right direction. It is with a small wink to my personal associated awareness that having to go to the British, Dutch and American embassies to renew our passports, made me realize that in real life I am also at a rest area. You see, a passport indicates where you have been and renewing it means a silent commitment to continue exploring and traveling in the future. In this case I took it as a sign to take a break from writing yesterday and check the 'Wall of Scofield' to see where I am and where I should be heading.

I've been reading Joseph Cambells 'Hero with a Thousand Faces' and am amazed at how much I've already plotted matches the 'monomyth' or 'Hero's Journey' he describes in his book. I'll get into this tomorrow, so don't worry if this concept is alien to you. The funny thing is that you've most likely been exposed to the monomyth many times over already simply by reading classic works of fiction or going to see movies in the cinema. For now it is only relevant that I spent whatever was left of my day after all the embassy visits to match various moments in the plot of the book to the monomyth, while keeping an eye out for character development, story structure, plot motivations and sequential timing of events.

I found myself towards the end still reading up on my notes and researching new work while preparing dinner for Alex (Nancy giving him a bath) up to the very point where Alex was munching his spaghetti, applesauce and carrots. That's when I finally laid down my notebook and had my moment of satisfaction. I am still heading in the right direction. My car is in no risk of breaking down any time soon. The weather forecast is sunny and clear skies. My Muses are enjoying a much needed Mocca Frappuccino and browsing the magazine stand. Before I take off again, I take one last glance at the drawn route on the map, beautifully laid out in balanced forms and colors, and enjoy the silence of the open plains...if even just for a minute or two.