Hunting the wild goose



My long awaited goose hunting trip to a distant icy wilderness started with me missing the right exit on the motorway and nearly missing the outbound  flight. Daydreaming and mental preparation caused my temporary lapse of concentration. Got to the airport 5 minutes before the gate closed.

Nervousness and anticipation made me feel uneasy and vulnerable. After all, the trip was to a distant, frozen land, devoid of the usual sense of security one feels when in familiar surroundings.

Weapons for the job were ready...tactics rehearsed over and over in my head...I felt well prepared for the job in hand, but still...the feeling of fear of the unexpected prevailed. There are no guarantees when it comes to hunting. Everybody knows that...except me.

On arrival at my destination, temperatures of minus 16 centigrade smacked me out of my daydreaming state. No welcoming party awaited, and, although I knew that was the plan, the feeling of an imminent bad omen entered my head. Would I be lucky enough to catch?

The 'wild goose chase' was on and lasted several days. I came across signs of my target several times but just couldn't get close enough. At least not close enough to guarantee success. Set-back followed set-back and it started to take its toll on me.  I persevered nonetheless, mentally bruised and battered, until the last day of the trip, when it became obvious I would blank.

It is disappointing when so much planning and preparation fails to produce the desired goods, be it hunting or life in general. Maybe its a sign I should go back to old habits and concentrate on fishing instead?

Maybe, just maybe, from now on I should let the wild geese fly over my head and into the unknown, undisturbed and without shooting...or should I..?

...maybe I won't give up the hunt just yet. After all  'precious = worth fighting for'.

 New Year's resolution?  To be resolute
:)