I like “the societal pet carrier of what we should do.” I am so out of that thing. Pissed on it and ripped it to shreds. Maybe that’s why my arms hurt: ABS is tough stuff, even when it’s only metaphorical.

Hmm. I think you do actually only do that fabulous thing once. Doing it again is both redundant and futile since you can never recapture the Trail Magic of the original experience. There’s also that basic problem of too much to do, too little time.

I don’t try to recreate my once in a lifetime experiences. I probably won’t ride my bike across the United States, for example, and damn sure am not ever going to make and nurse another baby. Yet, this isn’t a reason for meloncholy. The number of possible once in a lifetime, unique and startling, amazing and exciting, soul changing experiences is — quite literally — infinite.

And Laureen, you know this. You are a Witness to this basic truism. What you are actually articulating is the need to stop simply living a “practical life” occasionally punctuated by memorable events. Instead, we need to open ourselves to the wonder of our every day existence. We must empower ourselves to reach outside the societal pet carrier of what we should do towards the feral beauty of what we can do.