Whenever I go on a trip, I usually do so much preplanning, I kind of ruin the effect somewhat of seeing new places. However, I don’t miss much or spend a lot of time searching for things to see, so I guess it all evens out. For the quest for the crossroads, massive preparation is needed. There are so many out of the way, hidden and forgotten places that make up the fabric of this story, you have to search them out and plot your steps, so as not to miss anything relevant.
I start with the internet, because, that’s what any reasonable person would do. A quick search for the crossroads brings up some interesting discussion points. A crossroads is mentioned in the Bible in the book of Ezekiel “For the king of Babylon stands at the parting of the way, at the fork in the two roads”. Early Christians buried criminals and suicide victims at a crossroads after nightfall, to more replicate pagan rituals and confuse the rouge spirits should they arise. Robert Frost, the great 20th century poet, even mentions the divergence of two roads in the middle of a forest. A crossroads has always meant a choice. You take the high road, I’ll take the low road, the path less taken, and of course the crossroads has always held a mystical aura in the voodoo, and conjuring religions of Africa.
So here I am at the first crossroads. Do I want to leave on Thursday night, or Friday? Since I am an independent businessman during the day, closing on a Friday was tough. As a blues fanatic and guitar player who hasn’t had a vacation in about 6 years, it took all of 1 minute to cross that road.
It is my belief, at least the belief I choose to follow, that a true crossroads is not just a regular intersection. If that were so, then one could choose to follow the same path they were on. No, a true crossroads always involves a choice, a fork in the road literally, and figuratively. Good or Evil. Left or Right. High or Low. Easy or Hard. Go this way, and lose your horse; Go that way and lose your head the ancient Russians would say. So off I go to continue preparation. Until next time…..the quest continues.