Remember those essay assignments in high school English? The whale in Moby Dick as God. The Mississippi River in Huckleberry Finn as (once again) God. Sarah Vowell's essay on the corner of Wacker and Wacker as a metaphor for the whole history of Chicago. The secret garden in the novel of the same name as a metaphor for what? Life? Love? Freedom? Self-esteem? Along those lines, I would like to propose my title metaphor.
The bike path runs the length of our island and is a microcosm of our community. Here and there, you can encounter some curves and some admittedly gentle grades up or down. There are several places along the way that provide an opportunity to rest up and refresh before proceeding. The population of the path at any given time can include people of all ages walking, running, roller blading or riding bikes. Swarms of children on bikes, a young mother walking or running behind a stroller with an infant or toddler on board, young or not-so-young men with or without spandex and helmets and clipped into their bike pedals, an older couple strolling at a more leisurely pace and holding hands, lots of folks walking their dogs. All of these and more populate our bike path.
Two stretches of the path are particular favorites of mine. The first is the part that goes by the West Shore golf course, probably because it is such a pleasant vista of trees and well-groomed expanses of grass. The other is the part going South from Bellevue. I love how it curves in and out and gives me a chance to swoop back and forth. It touches the inner child in me, and I am exhilarated by a sense of freedom from some of the constraints that go with being on foot.
A metaphor is, by definition, imperfect. It is like the thing it describes, but it is not the thing itself. So this one breaks down quickly. Nevertheless, perhaps it captures one aspect of our island life in a way that enhances our experience. To paraphrase our state motto, if you seek a beautiful island, look around.
See you on the path!
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Very nicely put, Toni. I look foward to reading more of your updates!
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