Black Ink Pad

"The world had teeth and it could bite you with them anytime it wanted."
~The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon, Stephen King

Any story that starts with a line like that is going to grab my attention. So, I've recently revisited King's story about a young girl who is lost in the Maine woods. I think I last read it about 9 years ago. Of course, the story speaks to me on several levels... that of a lost girl, the woods, the love of baseball, the journey, the path, the wandering off the path and consequences thereof.

It seems that lately I've been drawn to books about people who've had to "tough up" in the woods. No great stretch to wonder why, given where I live and the rather tenuous quality of my existence lately.

I recently read The Woods, by Harlan Coben... a decent murder mystery if you're looking for one. In it, he perfectly stated a truth that I've been in touch with for years now:
"Those who believe that we are anything other than animals are blind. All humans are savages. The ones who are well fed are just lazier. They don't need to kill to get their food. So they dress up and find so-called loftier pursuits that make them believe that they are somehow above it all. Such nonsense. Savages are just hungrier. That was all. You do horrible things to survive. Anyone who believes that they are above that is delusional."
~The Woods, Harlan Coben

I've had plenty of time to get in touch with my baser (animal) instincts over the past few months... even years. I know what I'm made of and that if it comes down to it in a fight for survival, I'm capable of anything. Everything. Most of us are with one tremendous difference - the difference comes in being prepared or unprepared for the moment. There's no real way to know which side of the coin you fall on until you're challenged with it.

Ask yourself some questions. Picture worst-case scenarios. Are you taking a stand or are you racing to hide in the shadows? There's no right answer - both options are based upon animal instinct. It's just my belief that it's best to know which one I'd pick if I were up against it. I'm pretty certain that I'm a "stander" rather than a "hider."

Just something to think about. Something I've been thinking about (again)... just some lost in the woods thoughts...