When I was a little girl I used to read those "Choose Your Own Adventure" books from time to time. Do you remember those? You started a story off-invariably some kind of action book about pirates/haunted houses/alien invasions with a plot involving danger (on the high seas/in the conservatory/with alien number 9)-and you'd get to a page where you'd have to make a choice-do you jump off this ship (in which case plesae turn to page 2 or do you stand and face Long John Silver (then please turn to page 5)? I read a few of those, but I'd read them in a strange way-as opposed to trying to get to the longest and most satisfactory ending, I'd read through all of the endings just to know what the endings looked like.

I suppose it's all a bit like a Choose Your Own Adventure. When we went away to Wales, I very much felt like I was locked inside the pirate's room, readying for interrogation (page 9). I didn't have my sea legs yet and couldn't work out how to walk from the end of the room without falling down. When I finally twigged how to jaunt like an old Sea Dog and pick the lock, I didn't know if I should turn right ouf of the captain's room (page 62) or left (page 51).

My Choose Your Own Adventure did have some predictable plot lines. I got stabbed in the back in my absence at the office, but I have come to expect this and so it wasn't really a surprise (continue on to next page). My managers have delved in to micro-management mode, but this too is not unexpected (turn to page 19). On the long drive home yesterday, I saw in my Blackberry that the working world had exploded, that I would have to dig out evidence that I do not deserve the scouring (which I have), but I couldn't face it and allowed myself the rest of the day's holiday without stressing out. Stressing out can be for today (page 31). Only, honestly? I'm not really going to stress out about work anymore (page 22). That's the thing with Choose Your Own Adventure-you can choose the route you want. My adventure doesn't include that anymore.

My inbox looks like someone chucked War and Peace in there and ran, the house needs tidying, and the breathing down my neck is wrinkling my collar. I'm concerned about Maggie and the dog needs a bath. I have errands to run, a hotly worded email that's pinging around my head and I feel very, very tired. Above all, there are two blond stepkids dancing around the house, and we have a puzzle to finish together.

I guess in those days of Choose Your Own Adventure I never realized that the best end goal maybe wasn't always the most celebratory-it wasn't about defeating the pirates and carrying away the treasure a la Goonies (albeit without the chap dropped on his head too many times). To me, working out how to get to that storyline was the key-how do I get the maximum result for the sweat on my adventure?

Standing staring out over the sea on Tuesday, my legs in the water and my eyes looking out across the sea, I realized that while the adventures have changed, they can not only have a simpler ending, but be far more fulfilling than I'd ever known.

-H.

PS-comments are back open, and hopefully, they can stay that way.

Posted by: Everydaystranger at 05:31 AM | Comments (10) | Add Comment
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1 Welcome back, love. Hope you had a splendid holiday.

Posted by: April at August 17, 2006 06:41 AM (PFXpB)

2 Welcome back, Helen. After looking at some stats this morning, I would think much of that inbox clutter is support.

Posted by: Rob at August 17, 2006 10:50 AM (MoXSh)

3 I'm on my way back to work myself. The adventure continues! I listened to the interview. *sigh* I shouldn't have listened to that after my shower. Suddenly I feel dirty again. As with most right-wing shows, I couldn't help but notice that there was almost 2 minutes of intro time, and when he finally did get around to "talking" to you he barely let you get a word in edgewise. I was amused to hear the british accent pop in and out. Interestingly, I didn't hear any Texas there.

Posted by: ~Easy at August 17, 2006 12:57 PM (GIl28)

4 Im so glad you're back!

Posted by: That Girl at August 17, 2006 01:47 PM (oT4a3)

5 Welcome back. Glad your priorities (blond kinds and puzzles) are right. Wish I had heard the interview. Where and when. Can it be accessed?

Posted by: Foggy at August 17, 2006 01:50 PM (WlHuv)

6 Welcome back! I, too, listened to the interview and got the same insight as Easy. 'nuf said. You are learning to live life on YOUR terms, not everyone elses'. Good for you.

Posted by: sue at August 17, 2006 03:21 PM (WbfZD)

7 Hey girl, welcome back! I know I don't comment much, but I'm here every morning with ya. So speaking of adventures. I just got married and our honeymoon is the end of next month. We are coming to London for 4 days and then a 9 day tour in Italy. aaah. I was wondering if I could get the scoop from a local. Any suggestions on good food/beer/wine/shows?? etc.? We are looking at hotels near Hyde Park, so we can be kinda central to everything. Thanks much in advance!! p.s. I loved your response in the interview - "and I thought I was here to talk about travel." - ha ha, he didn't ruffle you for a minute. friggin' awesome! laters, C

Posted by: Christina at August 17, 2006 04:00 PM (axrWz)

8 welcome back to real life, huh? Glad you had a nice break, though.

Posted by: caltechgirl at August 17, 2006 05:43 PM (/vgMZ)

9 Welcome back! I loved those books when I was little. I would go through and finish whatever adventure I had chosen ... and then when I was finished I'd go back and choose a completely different one. I was always getting in trouble with the school for keeping books for too long. Like Easy, the interview frustrated me. He kept talking in circles and out of his backside. I did notice the accent popping through every once in a while. Now I do see how some Americans don't really identify you as being an American when you first speak. It's a combination of American, Swedish, and English ... ^_^ I hope that Maggie is ok! Keep your feet in the sea and your hands busy with that puzzle. Work will sort itself out in the end - stress or not.

Posted by: Michele at August 17, 2006 10:16 PM (5VGFA)

10 hey SugarTits! what are you staring at? hehe...sorry, my Mel G. accent is a bit off. like everybody else said "Welcome Back" glad to have the comments back too... so I can practice my impersenations. I like this particular one. I am showing it off to everyone.

Posted by: J.m at August 18, 2006 03:56 AM (k3v0Q)

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