The Garden Path

Old fairy tales often include an element of scaring children to obey authority and to push teenagers to follow an accepted plan. I call this concept “the garden path”(Im quite certain this comes from somewhere but I couldnt find it) , a set of instructions that carry the implicit promise you will be ok if you follow them often comments about what happens when you don’t.

1) old fashioned stories such as little red riding hood; listen to your elders or a monster will eat you

2) boomers had the wizard of oz; after economic problems separated a girl from her support network she followed the golden path to the fucking-green city where she had the power to support herself along.

3) I was raised Mormon and “the iron rod”

Such myths are have lost their weight because, get this, boomers don’t have a plan for your future. But the garden path and all our instincts to seek it remain; college, linked in, grovelling for a job when its hopeless.

Its so, easy, to fall into a trap where you feel empowered or responsible to “grind”/”educate yourself” when the logic just isn’t there and is obviously not there. At this point I think the advice “deal drugs but don’t use your own supply *wink*"“ is more grounded and sober then “go to college”. I tried to consciously leave the common bad advice to take saner risks but I just find more garden path where ever I go; with more obviously if delayed risks everywhere I look.

The garden path did protect the boomers from monsters, but the gates are failing, and the wizard casting the magic that maintained the garden silence suggest his death; we must flee into the unknown, I expect most of us to not make it but that’s not saying it isn’t the best option.