by Mac a'Bhaird

Created on: April 19, 2009

You may be familiar with the quote, 'The cowards never started, the weak died by the way', although somehow I always thought that quote ended with, 'but the brave will make a home in any land', yet I cannot authenticate it, or even ascribe the first part to anyone in particular.

I think it's fitting here; as there is definitely a certain breed of people that seek the extra-ordinary experiences and places. DNA studies have shown that there is a marked difference between those who stepped out and immigrated, and survived the ordeal, in contrast to those who stayed behind. I cannot say it's cowardice or bravery, but there is certainly something that is resident in some people that causes them to seek the 'out of ordinary' experience.

It certainly isn't in everyone; I know that for a fact. On a small scale, there is my dear wife, content to grind through each day with stacks of paperwork, headaches dealing with people (myself adding to her headaches) seven days a week and then go putter around in her garden whereas I am looking over my shoulder for some get-away; my backpack is never fully unpacked. I am forever dreaming of the out of ordinary place and experience. And no doubt we would have moved a dozen or more times had it not been for her telling me, what part of NO don't you understand?' No doubt that has saved my hide.

My point is, some seem content to face the mundaneness of each and every day, trudging off to the factory whereas others are willing to pitch it all to don the Green and live with Robin hood and his merry men in Sherwood Forest, or at least, they have a craving for the out of ordinary. Some, like Walter Mitty only dream it, others do it.

I also believe that the definition of 'out of ordinary' is different for all of us. Personally I have no need to go bungee jumping in the tropics or to sit in a Yurt somewhere in Mongolia eating goat yoghurt. Yet when I face mundaneness in my local habitat I recall visions of sitting in a Jewish deli in New York City eating Matzo Ball soup at 2:00 AM while it is raining cats and dogs outside, or I dream the time I laughed within myself as I sat underneath a canopy in San Raphael on the Cote d'Azur reading a book, and thinking, 'not a soul knows where I am'. For this two bit California cowboy, that was out of the ordinary.

Is it a lack of contentness that causes some people to crave the out of ordinary? I don't think so, not any more than someone who is restless and not content until they reach a certain goal in life. Isn't that what life is all about? Some have accomplished their out of ordinary' goals, others are still reaching.

Again, for me, it would be totally out of the ordinary for me to sit in a pub somewhere on the coast of Donegal. I will not be satisfied until I do.

Oh, the wayward wind is a restless wind

A restless wind that yearns to wander

And I was born the next of kin

The next of kin to the wayward wind...

(Lyrics by Herb Newman and Stan Lebowsky)

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