“It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door,” Bilbo earlier told his young friend. “You step onto the road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there’s no knowing where you might be swept off to.”
Far too often, people allow the mundane of life to interfere with the potential adventures of life. They become so wrapped up in the daily aspects of it that they fail to grab for its gusto. They mistake comfort for contentment and live a quiet restlessness never understanding why. There are bills to pay, jobs with work that must be done and responsibilities, always responsibilities. Then, quite suddenly, the opportunities for adventure have come and gone; unused.
Barbara and I have our regrets; the things we have tried which have not worked out as we had hoped. But of all the ventures that have not ended as we planned, we have no regrets about taking them on, stepping out our door. We would rather have gone on an adventure and failed than to have not gone at all. And age, it seems, has not dimmed our enthusiasm for life’s quests.
Together therefore, as we have always done in our partnership, we are going on another adventure. We have heard the call of Paris, France calling us back for a visit. Our French has long ago turned to rust and we no longer have the physical stamina we once possessed. Nevertheless, our spirits need the rejuvenation of something new and exciting, so vive la France!
You will forgive us if we use the social network to document our latest adventure. You are welcome to come along, that is, if you are not on one of your own.