"Now, mentally rehearse your process and imagine striking the ball. Visualize the flight all the way to the pin. See the shot. Then, take your stance and your body will make it happen."
Those words of encouragement, expressed by the most patient of coaches and mentors, still echo from an adolescence held captive by self inflicted inhibitions. All might have been lost if that same youth had not been liberated by a passion for chasing after balls whether it be on the diamond, court, field, or course. Unfortunately, no amount of "picturing" and zeal could compensate for the want of 4 inches in height, 50 pounds of muscle, and a competitive spirit that refused to cry uncle.
And so it came to be....
Well, old habits are hard to break. Come September, in nine days time, Jamie and I will be embarking on a cruise from Vancouver, Canada to Tokyo, Japan via a route along the Southern Alaskan coast. With itinerary in hand, a goodly portion of the last few days has been spent anticipating specific days of the upcoming voyage. Visualizing if you will.
"Hey, Jamie Lynne, in two weeks we'll be in Ketchikan. It'll be fun to see...".
Of course, I really have no idea of what will actually transpire on any given day anymore than I know where that golf ball ended up. You might say that the future as well as the past are often veiled in the haze. Nonetheless, there will be a number of "sea days" while onboard and as is my habit, I aspire to write some blog entries based upon what was experienced on the previous day's ports of call.
Further, the initial conception of this writing suggests that a theme be employed. Our home on the Salish Sea is not far distant from Vancouver, BC. Just across the border and approximately 58 miles as the crow flies. One August morning last week our community was enveloped by a thick, drifting fog. It left somewhat of a mystical impression and brought home the fact that we're likely to see fog throughout our route.
Hmmm.....a journey shrouded in ashen gray would be the ultimate bummer. Nonetheless, travel is so much more than simple visual gratification. For instance, lessons have already been taught regarding Sumi-e - Japanese ink painting. In this art form, mist is not an empty void but something called Ma - the intentional negative space that gives shape and meaning to the mountains emerging from it. Indeed, fog does not erase the world; it provokes us to look deeper at what lies just beneath the surface.
Yes, fog will be central to the subject matter that follows.
Here we go!
Now, the joy to tarry at the starboard watch with damp air clinging to the wooden rails. A gull's laugh pierces the opaque and a horn sounds distant. Then, to peer further into the Pacific fog.
Links:
Fog and Light (Psalms and Prayers) (written, not yet linked)
Imprisoned Guardians (in writing)
The Battle of Kiska (1943) (in writing)
Negative Space, Ma and more (in writing)
Out of the Mist (Sights Along the Way) (in writing)
