Detour Through Maine

I was all set to board a bus tomorrow morning to go to New York City and then on to Budapest, Hungary. But then good senses kicked in and I realized that I needed to go first to Maine.

Choices lead to actions which lead to choices which leads to more actions.

I made choices, and now I need to act.

For over a week I felt like a squirrel, for I knew that I was shrinking away from my self-designed responsibility. I was just going to back to Eastern Europe on the strength of hoped that everything would work out according to plan.

I was going to let the dust settle in my wake.

Though I know that I am a better man than this, even though I carry the card of a traveler. A traveler all too often has the habit of leaving, rather than facing problems. A traveler knows how easy it is to just leave the world of dust far, far behind.

But there is little monkey on everyone’s back who whispers taunts in their ears when they are acting like a squirrel.

I made choices, and now I must act.

Map of Maine from http://www.maine-map.org/

I changed my ticket to Budapest for Monday, January 12th. I bought new air tickets from Rochester, NY to Portland, Maine and then another to New York City. In all, I laid down $400 to make this detour.

$400 was almost a quarter of my total travel funds.

But $400 is a small price to pay to feel like a man, rather than a squirrel.

I am a vagabond, if I need money, I work. Spending $400 now means that I will just need to find work a month sooner. This is OK, Turkey is in my Path. I will make do.

I will walk the trail with my head up and looking straight ahead.

I will not cower away in the bushes.

Like Richard Francis Burton would say, “Honour, not honors.”

Back to Maine.