|
COAL APPLES
Friday Feb. 20, 2015
Random accidents wayfinding through mazes, we bump into obstacles. Lost in some crowd where we’ll be found soiling each other, shining one another – apples in a bowl, coal lumps in some bin – to shine or to get dirty or both.
Today could be best day of our lives, or worst or both.
When over, it will be soon forgotten or unforgettable.
When we compare, incomparable.
We are not solutions in search of some complex problem, neither beginning or ending, we are all some grand adventurers.
You might think, how could a day be so exciting and full of promise when it is like any other day on the calendar, holds only so much space and time like any other day?
Like shirt in a closet, just hanging around without much notice or distinction from our neighbours, same size as those to right or left – strangers in a crowd, one after another, just the same.
But not.
We are lumps of coal together in the bin, getting ourselves dirty without caring. Who would notice if a lump of coal got soiled? Or if one apple in the barrel got shinier rubbing up against the other apples?
These are not our only options.
They are two among millions – and whatever happens today, we can shine or burn, be bright or get soiled.
No crowd watches when or where we’ll be our best, or worst. We stand alone. At best, to meet an outstretched hand – in search of another apple to shine, or lump of coal to rub against.
Few will know what happens.
Nobody knows.
What happens next?
Another day, another way, amazing …
Mark Kolke
column written/ published from Calgary, AB
morning walk: 1C/34F, strong gusts from the north, light snow falling – Gusta coated white, not sure why she had such a short walk in the wee hours (she’s off to the kennel shortly where she’ll have a weekend romp at her favourite resort while I investigate spring flowering in Victoria).
Reader feedback:
MO MEANT
Mark, thanks for this.. This is a beautiful piece. This part got to me: If I had just an afternoon to show anyone all that matters in my life, could I do that? Would I show you? Or tell you? Act out, paint pictures or simply be with you - let you feel it? There's one person in my life that got away.. because I didn't take the time to be with her. 15 years later I'm still struggling to let her go. Anyway.. thanks again, AP, Calgary, AB
| 
