Over the river and through the woods...

Today, Nic drove us around the lake to shake off the boredom of our ‘cabin fever syndrome’. Neither Mom nor I are in a walking mode, and since I broke my right leg which is the car's ‘gas and brake’ pedal leg, I have also been removed from driving, too. As a result, it really puts the kibosh on getting out. Some sunshine...a bit of ice cream...wahoo!!
The lake was beautiful, the ice cream cone was delicious, and the change in scenery was soo-oo uplifting. Nic drove us to a state park where there was a waterfall that could be seen from the car. And it prompted a memory that is forever etched in my head. I began retelling it, ‘cause Flo was a part of it, and she said, “Oh yeah…I remember that!!”
I was a transplant [from NJ} to the Central NY area back in the early 70’s.
Flo [ a widow up to that point] had recently married Ray and they journeyed with another couple to visit for a weekend. To pass some time, I took them to a State Park where I had been many times to enjoy Mother Nature’s wonders. There was a large waterfall, and trails through the woods, picnic facilities, swimming areas, etc. We were there to walk over the stone bridge and marvel at the beautiful waterfall. At which point, Sylvia asked,
“What are up at the top of those steps?”
“There are trails that you can follow leading to a bigger waterfall where the water is controlled by a dam.” [I had been there before].
Sylvia’s husband, George, said, “Well, wanna go for a walk? Let’s give it a try!! See how far we get!!”
I remember thinking that we most likely wouldn’t be venturing very far…
So, I in my mid-twenties, and the three of them in their mid- sixties, began the ascent of.... ‘The Stairway to Heaven’ and a bit of adventure.
Ray, who had rheumatoid arthritis , found a perfect walking stick, and George with his compelling sense of humor kept us laughing along the path.
The path…the path…did the path just end? A dead end? That’s weird.
We retraced our steps and took a different fork in the trail.
We never crossed paths with any other people.
We never found the waterfall by the dam.
Round and round in the never ending maze of the forest, I was the guide who was praying for help to anyone in the great beyond, while for two hours, we went for a walk[!!] in the woods. It was not a good time. Thank goodness it was daylight.
But it was an eternity! Not to mention the many, varied, and unusual possibilities surging through my head that could have ended up as our ‘fate.
My Tarzan/Jane, “Hell-ooo-oooo!” brought no response. Probably scared some forest dwellers.
Somehow, I believe that in repressing the whole rotten experience, I can’t remember how we found our way out. I do recall Ray kissing the hood of the car upon our return to it. Perhaps he wondered if he would ever see it again. I know that it crossed my mind.
In retrospect, it was a funny story that we laughed about. NOT!!!
And I will tell you I am a huge believer in “Perspective is Everything”.
So, it goes without saying , that little walk in the woods certainly gave new meaning to:
“Want to go for a walk?”

Uhh-hh...I don't think so!!