paradise lost

This is where I went two days ago:


And I couldn't see anything but FOG!!

I wouldn't have complained about the rain. I wouldn't have complained about all the tourists, not even the old ones. I wouldn't have complained about slipping and squelching in the deep mud, up and down the hills in my flip flops, which fipped mud all over my legs until I looked like the creature from the black lagoon. I would even have laughed good-naturedly at the looks of condescending pity and outright superiority from the people who were outraged by my unsuitable footwear. But I was pretty mad about the fog.

I was unaffected by the bad weather in Rome and in Daugavpils. When I lost my rings, I was disappointed, but I quickly got over it. When I lost my shoes in Florence, I laughed and called it typical. But I was pretty mad about the fog.

The Plitvice lakes were supposed to be the highlight of my trip, the one day above all others that I was looking forward to. That is the picture I would show people to try to convince them to come to Croatia with me, and as I looked around me at all the gray fog, I couldn't help feeling that that I lost my chance to see paradise. It cost so much to get there that there is almost no way I can afford to go again on this trip, and who goes to Croatia twice in one life time?

I found myself thinking that it was an unnecessarily cruel way of teaching me to deal with disappointment, but then it occurred to me that it wouldn't be disappointing if it weren't something that is important to me, would it? And believing, as I strongly do, that our emotions are a choice completely within our agency, I set about to overcome my bitterness. It was not easy, but I feel better now. It was only one day in the midst of the trip of a lifetime. Daugavpils, Prague, Cinque Terre, and Bled have all been their own kinds of paradise, and I dare say I've seen a good deal more wonderful places like that than many, many people. And maybe one day when I'm rich, I'll come back to this area of the world to visit Turkey and can take another shot at Plitvice Lakes.


P.S. Today is Sunday, and there are no branches that meet in this area, so this is week 2 with no church attendance. I guess that technically makes me less active this month. Ooops.