Page 34 - September 2020 Voices

GLEANINGS FROM THE GROVE

Stepping Out - The Journey

Begins (Part 1)

Paul Fanning, DTM

It was a chilly morning—something I would items I would need for the journey. At last, I
grow to miss in the coming months of heat, lack stood before the full-length mirror and admired
of water, and even a comfortable bed. No more that which I saw there—handsome, debonair,

three-square meals a day, sitting on the veranda someone properly outfitted for an arduous, yet
whilst the servants hustled and bustled setting hopefully profitable adventure determined to
up, preparing, and delivering my repast. I gazed do their best for “King and Country” to their
out the window noticing for the first time a bird’s last breath.

nest on the tall tree before me. I heard a slight The vision before me began to morph as the
“ahem” and turned and found my valet standing mirror shrank, the clothing become a tee shirt
there. “Is there anything else you require of me and shorts and that dashing moustache turned
sir?” I responded at once with a terse “No thank into two-day stubble. Here I was, sitting before

you.” Thinking a moment, I added, “Caruthers, my master (the laptop), the green eye silent as
if I don’t return within the year, you will notify I finally began the process of my journey for
the Royal Society, won’t you?” “Of course, Sir. the day. Press ON. The journey begins—an
And your brother in the colonies as well.” With adventure, yes. Of a lifetime, yes. Of profit and

that he vanished out the door as if this was a daily fame, well that was up to me I believed.
occurrence. Unrattled but faithful to the last. Typing in the website reference for
I strode to the bed chamber and looked Toastmasters International and my logon, I
down and saw that all the trek kit was laid out stepped through the portal into another world

for me—knee boots, khaki colored shorts, shirt, again. Off to base camp where my sojourn begins.
tie, and jacket along with the almost comical but I am the master of my own fate, an expedition
ubiquitous solar topee (pith helmet). I quickly into my future and my education to better myself
dressed, careful to fill my pockets with requisite as a speaker, an evaluator, and a leader. And then

34 ONE COMMUNITY