Tomorrow will be a big day here: we are exploring “the lost road," on Halloween no less. As background, I found a road on our property unknown for 70 years. My seven-year-old son and I were likely the first humans to step foot on the road in all of those years; we had to prune away shrubbery and sneak past an animal nest to do so. As Frederick says,
In a tale that sent Frederick and I running away like school girls, we made it as far as the top of the road before we freaked out and turned back.
Winkyboy on Twitter made a good point about the whole story: “Your road reminds me of the landscape from ‘What was I scared of?’”
I hope that is the only lesson I learn from my fear of the lost road. I look at some pictures I took during my hike with Frederick (like the one at the top of this post) and I think to myself: “this picture belongs in a horror movie.”
We are going to try real hard not to be afraid of the unknown as we venture down to the lost road on Halloween. In response to my Facebook invitation to come to the lost road with us on Halloween, part of the Gonzales clan (of Delano Topper fame) will join us and, hopefully, we will venture a little further on that road than Frederick and I did. We expect Matt (who went to high school with me), his sister Jessica (who was married in our house last year) and Matt’s son.
Our Halloween plan includes sourdough pancakes made on the griddle of our new/old Wedgewood stove and the short hike to the lost road.
To be clear, we do plan to explore the road during daylight hours.
The lost road begins just through that manzanita branch in the picture below, as if the branch creates a door to a whole new world (in Cody Edward's rendition on Twitter). I just know I can walk through that manzanita door tomorrow, on Halloween, and down that road with my Gonzales friends. It does not scare me at all that I tweeted my 666th tweet this week on Twitter before I even thought to count tweets and that the 666th tweet was about witches on the lost road. No indeed, I am not even the slightest bit scared by that fact.
I also know that if I find a pair
of pants walking around on that road tomorrow without a person inside
of them, we may see just how fast I can run.
You're getting all fancy on this blog now, aren't you?: referencing literature in your posts. I approve.
Posted by: Sander Valyocsik | October 31, 2009 at 07:47 AM
Yes, I am sure that Seuss has raised my water level.
Aren't you excited about our plans for the day? You haven't been down there yet, Sander.
Posted by: Amanda Rose | October 31, 2009 at 08:10 AM
Scared of a walk in the woods? Hell, even the Scarecrow in "The Wizard of Oz" took a walk in the woods.
Posted by: Bob Hayles | October 31, 2009 at 08:20 AM
Hey Bob! I've missed you! I'm glad you're back.
That scarecrow never walked in these woods...(she says with a cackling sound).
Come test your courage, Bob. Walk the lost road...
Posted by: Amanda Rose | October 31, 2009 at 09:22 AM
I live in scary enough woods. I'm just finishing up rebuilding my house that a neighbor burned me out of last year while I was in and out and in and out of the hospital several times.
Posted by: Bob Hayles | November 01, 2009 at 05:38 AM