Previously

Nunco, Pre and Pro, having travelled only a day and a half have met three other travellers who have found their treasure and Electra who has fallen in love with Pro. Electra has been telling our three friends her story about how she lost her four year old daughter and husband.

Last week we finished before the story had reached its conclusion.

The story Continued

Electra continued “I made a decision there and then that only I could choose the path of sadness or happiness. I could cherish the memories of my two darlings or I could continue my life wondering how life might have been different if that truck driver had not been there in that moment of time.

Nunco looked up, wiping a tear from his eye “I have never been in your situation, so I can only imagine what you must have gone through, but my heart goes out to you with huge admiration. To make the most difficult choice to move on with your life, is a strength that few people know they have within themselves”

Often life throws us curve balls, I don't know what yours were, but I am sure you have had them. Many people say you need to go through pain and grieving, which I agree with. It is the balance of life that allows us to truly appreciate what Joy can do for us, when we have endured pain first.

However, the choice we have is how long to accept pain and sadness into our lives. Can you tell me what sick person was healed from being sad, what war was prevented from being sad or even let me know anything good that came from one person being sad?

In Ireland we used have what is known as a wake at a person's funeral. This was a more often a celebration of the life of the person and being Irish was nearly always accompanied with copious amounts of Poteen ( Ireland 's famous illegally brewed, highly potent alcoholic spirit!)

“Exactly” exclaimed Electra “I would not have been here if I had chosen the path of sadness and my journey would have been monotonous and without joy.

“When I met up with Darius, Santiago and Andreas, and they told me about the journey that they had embarked upon, I felt it was within my destiny to accept their offer of companionship.

“I knew not where they were going or where it would lead me, but as I mentioned before I felt it would get me more focused on the here and now and I could start to live my life again in awe of what each moment can bring.

With deep understanding in his heart and a realisation of what life is if you open your eyes to what is in front of you, Prostremo said “I see now that is important to realise that a mistake, may only be deemed a failure, if you fail to learn from the outcome. Life should be a continuous learning exercise, a lesson in what to do, and what to avoid.”

“In meeting you Electra, I realise that my mistake was expectation of what tomorrow may bring, the hopes that were continually shattered by not being aware of who I am right now.

“I always wanted success, like an athlete who wants to be the best in his discipline, yet I seemed afraid to commit myself, lest I should fail. Everything seems too rosy in the future, when the sharp taste of reality is not in your being.

“And, yet, being with you in this clearing with my two beautiful friends I feel a joy that is indescribable. Your pain and suffering have led you to this place, to join in our journey, with trials and hurdles to sweep over with a sense of pure accomplishment.

Preteritus noticed a strange rustling noise coming from the edge of the clearing, high up, to the right of where they were standing in the direction of the mountain. “Did you hear that guys?” he said.

“Sorry what are you talking about” responded Prostremo a slow lazy smile creasing his face, “I was miles away! In fact no, I was actually right here, but I was thinking about all I had, yet for me it was miles away, does that make any sense?”

“Sure! It makes perfect sense to a star struck lover such as your self, but I am far more interested in knowing what made that sound. It was too high up to be an animal, unless it was something that could climb up a tree. Do you think it could be someone who wants to rob us? I did hear about that happening before, you know!”

“Yes indeed, it's the bird man from Alcatraz , and look he's got wings, he just escaped and he flew all the way to rob little Preteritus!” mocked Prostremo “get a grip of yourself, man, why do you always look for some dark and deep story in your past to get yourself all panicky”

“And you're Mr. Perfect, aren't you?” quipped Preteritus “I mean, you would never go off in your fantasy world would you? Or did you happen to imagine Electra walking along into your life? Was she exactly how you imagined how she would be and arriving here exactly when she did?”

People, who are successful, prepare their lives for success, and work hard, sowing the seeds of crops they wish to harvest. They then nurture those seeds, watering them to help them to grow. They eliminate the weeds, like time wasting activities, so that energy required for success is not choked off by foolishness.

As they reap their success, then and only then do they take time to reflect, take time to review the fruits of their labours. As their success, is stored, in the larder of their self fulfilment, they do not pause for too long. With renewed energy, they embark upon their next goal or enterprise, and win again, and again.

However who is to say that there are not seeds that they are unaware of, being sown along with their future dreams.

Life will always throw surprises at us, good and bad, yet how we perceive those occasions and events, will determine our own state of mind – yes we can choose how to feel and how to view the flowers of life – as weeds or as objects of beauty.

“Would you two ever knock it off” said Nunco, pointing up at the trees, where a magpie sat balancing on a branch, with something shiny in its beak.

“One for Sorrow, two for Joy” quoted Prostremo from the old rhyme. “I hope there is another one lurking around; I don't think I would fancy any bad luck right now”

“To be honest, I more interested in what he has in its beak” said Nunco, who glancing at Electra, quickly added “Or She!”

“Oh, why thank you for your consideration!” exclaimed Electra, a glimpse of ego showing “I was beginning to think that you guys had forgotten all about me”

“Sorry Electra, “I am off again, jumping into what might be, even falling for my doomsayer friend's negativity with flying robbers and all that malarkey”

“Oh, come on Prostremo, that's a bit mean!” Preteritus jumped in, continuing “I am sorry, I shouldn't have given you such a hard time, I guess I was slipping away from right now as well! So what is in his beak? Did any one lose anything – hey hang on a minute, maybe it is a bit of treasure, what do you think guys?”

“It treasure all right” said Nunco “Treasure that Mr Magpie has in his beak, and maybe it means something and maybe it doesn't!”

Still a little piqued, yet annoyed with herself for feeling that way, Electra added “Oh we are back to ‘Mr.' again are we, must be a male thing, that only guys can carry treasure is it?”

“Two sides to every coin, I see” said Prostremo “Where's your love, forgiveness and wonderment at what each moment can bring you on your journey right now, gone?”

“Mea Culpa” said Electra, feeling really rather foolish “I let my big fat ego get in the way; it always does cause us pain doesn't it?”

Just then the magpie, startled by something in the trees, started flapping madly, uttering a blood curdling squawk, he dropped the shiny object, which came to rest beside the trunk of a large oak tree.

“Come on guys, let's see what it is” said Preteritus, rushing over to the tree.

Prostremo, quickly overtook him, crouched down and gave a little shout, for there lying on the ground was a……

……To be continued...

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