Friday, December 27, 2013

And That Has Made All The Difference

by Bert Carson
Christina and I came in from our evening run a few hours ago and one of us said something that prompted the other to say, "And that made all the difference."

For a moment, the source of the phrase eluded us both, so I Googled it.  Before the search was complete, I remembered.  I even remembered hearing Robert Frost reciting The Road Not Taken, and I recalled reciting it myself in workshops and seminars.

Now, it's almost 4 AM, and I can't shake the poem—truth is I'm not trying too hard to shake it.  So, I decided to check out images of country roads with forks.  I found quite a few, but stopped when I found the one above.  Actually it jumped out of the pack, selecting itself.  I posted it and immediately realized that I can look at it, throw my eyes out of focus a bit, and recall facing and making that decision some sixty-five years ago.

Actually, as decisions go, it wasn't much of one.  I approached the fork, saw the choices, and barely slowing, took the road to the right.  I didn't take it because it looked the easiest, and it hasn't been.  I didn't take it because I figured I'd have a lot of company along that way, and I've met precious few who shared my choice.  I didn't take it for any reason other than I knew it was the way for me to go, and that has made all the difference.

The Road Not Taken
by Robert Frost

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, as 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 wood, and I--
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.


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