When the U.S.A. was a young nation opportunities arose to move west and start new lives. One of the most popular ways to do so was to use the 2,170 miles route known as The Oregon Trail. Traveling the trail was a revelation to the pioneers. When they started on the journey they were laden with overburdened Conestoga wagons, Prairie Schooners or carts pulled by oxen, mules or horses. A family's worldly goods, which included items such as a piano, wooden bedroom furniture, mattresses, stove, tools, hundreds of pounds of food, along with pots and pans accompanied them as they set out to go west.
Buoyed by faith, hope and adventure they started off easily from Independence, Missouri to Oregon's Willamette Valley. As they journeyed west things became more difficult as they encountered mountains and swift rivers or streams. When their heavily laden carts started up these summits these conveyances became almost impossible for even the sturdiest animals to pull. People started to discard items to lighten the load. The heavy ornate beautiful piano may have been the first to go. It was not needed for life. Sure it was nice to have, but unnecessary.
Grandma’s heavy walnut dresser might have been next to be abandoned. One could put clothes on a nail if need be. The goal was to make it over the mountain or to ford a river. The wagons must be lightened if they were were going to be able to complete the trip. Eventually the trail was littered with cast off worldly goods. These cast-off goods became a stream of revenue for some enterprising folk. Some things had to be sacrificed in order to reach their new homes.
We’ve weathered 2020. Many started last year burdened by heavy appointments, deadlines, crowding on trains, planes, congested highways and rushing children from one activity to another. As we traversed up and down 2020’s trail we learned there were things without which we didn’t know we could live. We’re still breathing without having attended a sports game. Church became a virtual experience which allowed us to attend any where we chose from around the world. Visits to museums ceased, but we learned new ways to satisfy our curiosity. Thank God we live in the internet age. Gyms, and salon services closed down. We had to exercise at home and shampoo our own hair. Birthday parties, graduations all came to a screeching halt. The term drive-by became associated with joy and not death. We found that what we thought were essentials were actually extras, luxury items not needed to sustain life.
Restaurants closed, but we still had to eat. Therefore many people learned to cook and bake. Those jobs we ignored such as grocery workers, truck drivers fire and police were suddenly essential to our well being.
We found out that school and colleges could go on, with innovation and for some with difficulty, at home. Even flying here and there to attend a conference or attending a concert could be expedited using differing computer platforms. In order to give ourselves a fighting chance we had to make choices and deem what was really essential to live a productive and decent life.
Like the pioneers before us let’s make sure that what we are carrying into 2021 are necessaries and essentials so we can not just make it but thrive in this New Year. We still have mountains to climb in 2021, but like the pioneers on the Oregon Trail, we have a better idea of what’s necessary to make the trip. Keep the Faith! Share love and kindness! Happy New Year to all of my Family and Friends.
