Friday, September 11, 2009

Weekword: Begin

Begin - proceed - take heed of the warning signs but do not let them dissuade you from your journey - know where you are going to. And whatever you do, do not end up at Putsonderwater.

(Collage with magazine tearouts, newspaper tearout, scribbles I made of road signs in my diary on Boyes Drive, writing and paint).
Locals will understand the reference to Putsonderwater, but if you are from Elsewhere a little explanation is necessary. Putsonderwater was (it is completely derelict now and no-one lives there anymore) a tiny village in the middle of nowhere in the Northern Cape. Tough desert world. It has always been the epitome of hopelessness, and the butt of many jokes (first prize in the competition is two days in Putsonderwater, second prize is two weeks in Putsonderwater). The name literally means Well without water (Put sonder water). So, although you may have to BEGIN there, it is not the place where you want to end up, metaphorically speaking. By the way, I have to admit that I do not take my own advice - I almost never know where I am going to in life. I kind of meander along and take the side roads as they come up, or at crossroads decide quickly, without weighing up and analysing too much ... it has always worked for me.

This week's word was chosen by Laurie. Find her delightful look-into-the-past interpretation here, as well as the list of other participants.

Have a great weekend, dear friends! Begin something and have fun with it!

12 comments:

Linda Sue said...

Putsonderwater! sounds like just where I want to be! Think of all the living in your head you could do without distraction! Sounds like the place where I grew up, in wyoming.
I,too, meander- I would make a terrible cave woman- if a bird fell in my lap I might make dinner but I would not know how to plan a hunt. I am lost most of the time and always curious. I think that you are responsible for tacking down that very southern section of the map and I for the northern. I stress "tacking" not cementing because we might want to float.
I like the coneheads walking to Putsonderwater. They have much thinking to do.

Veja cecilia said...

what an intresting little story. It´s very nice to get to know such odd things about places I have never even heard about:) have a great weekend!

Laurie said...

What a fun collage! Yes - we are always being admonished to begin with the end in mind, but if we do that always we're sure to be disappointed. How sad for the little town of Putsonderwater...

Thank you for playing along!

Renee said...

Dear friend I am very glad that you and the family are well. That is important to me.

Love Renee xoxo

nathalie et cetera said...

I always enjoy visiting your blog so much! You seem to have the knack for making me smile. Love this Putsonderwater place. I also like to take side roads. But sometimes I get lost... which is a good way to learn about yourself I guess. Going to begin something now... dinner. Have a wonderful weekend!

Relyn Lawson said...

That last line was just perfect:

Begin something and have fun with it.

That's good life advice actually.

lisa said...

begin is one of my favorite words and you have served it well here. this is just beautiful.

love your banner photo too!

at swim-two-birds said...

i love your story of 'putsonderwater', dutch is my mother tongue, so i enjoyed it a lot, but here in belgium we would say 'put zonder water' and this is my advice: keep folowing your intuition, it is a gift to cherish.

aimee said...

i love coming to your blog! i learn something new every time i come here. next time my kids misbehave, i will tell them they are risking a trip to putsonderwater.

Caroline said...

What a great post! Love your collage and so glad you told us that story - is well worth a read! I have begun so many projects - I must now finish them all or risk ending at Putsonderwater!

Anonymous said...

i've been thinking about this. i really never generally begin. i usually find myself in the middle of. hard to have momentum when you weren't on a designated course. paths fascinate me, but i wonder, do most people see them lying clearly marked ahead of them, or do they pave them themselves?

Denise Kiggan said...

I agree on the not always knowing where you are going or at least not being emphatic about it! That way there are some surprises and pleasant detours.