I pulled this quote from a Jess Walter book I recently finished, I believe it was Over Tumbled Graves. You would think I'd have noted the name of the book when I recorded the quote, but at the time I was sure I would remember it. Alas unless it's the name of a plant my memory fades (and even then...). Anyway, the quote:
"Like all people, they realized too late that mystery was the key to staying interested in the whole business, to distracting themselves from the surety of what came next..."
"Next" (to my way of thinking) could be many things; the job you get up and go to everyday but no longer enjoy, the relationship you're in that's going nowhere, and then of course there is death.
I am still working through the layers of grief involved in loosing my dad, all the things I wish I would have thought to talk with him about. My dad was a master at making light of just about everything though, not getting too serious. An excellent method of distraction.
Gardening is many things for me, one of them certainly is a method of distraction. I think it was one of dad's too. Anything that can absorb every minute you let it—and give back so much—is an excellent distraction. Also, is there anything as mysterious as gardening? Well okay a few things, but it's up there near the top.
"mystery was the key to staying interested in the whole business"...
You could substitute the word curiosity. Curiosity is my natural response to mystery, and without curiosity, what is the point, really? Anyway, rambling thoughts to accompany a slightly mysterious image, another gift from my husband.
