“ A Plethora Of Conjecture, Surmise

In my youth, the saga of the search for the Holy Grail fascinated me.

I pondered long and often as I read and reread the tale.

Little did I think the memory would emerge and haunt me again in the twilight of life.

Yet it has as I read daily with reluctant interest about the ongoing accusations and insinuations of impropriety of well, just everyone in public view. I believe accusations have become the sport du jour.

So I guess we need to look for new national heroes and heroines to gaze upon with approval, interest and ah yes,, admiration i.e. envy.

Where shall we look, I wonder. Then once again the saga of the Holy Grail resurrects in my subconscious.

Perceval, the Story of the Grail, was written in Old French by Chretien de Troyes in the Twelfth Century. The poet did not finish the fifth verse, but it was the earliest recorded account of what became known as the Quest for the Holy Grail.

In later years others added more lines to what became known as the Four Continuations.

Obviously, the Arthurian legend differs significantly from today’s search for what or rather who is needed, a man or woman without sin. Still there are parallels. Perhaps because at the moment, I cannot think of anyone filling this role without a significant disguise.

I am also bewildered as to where our search should begin. I think we can all agree the political world would not be a wise choice, and for other reasons, it is probably wiser to avoid the entertainment area as well as seminaries.

Academia seemed to be a mite more appropriate until recently when some ambiguous charges were leveled in that direction.

Ah, so where to go. It is indeed an enigma. Perfection is so rare, and I fear if ever it existed, is now extinct.

I, personally, have never encountered it in any area of life. Yet possibly some of the anonymous accusers have more familiarity with it than other lesser human beings.

Perhaps we should turn this new quest over to them, if only we knew their names. It would definitely be a help.

Then who knows, maybe another epic poem could be written to describe today’s quest for not a Grail, but perfection.

Perhaps another chapter in history could be written for others to read in centuries to come, and who knows how many continuations might be eventually added to this current saga?

Meanwhile the words of Arthur Conan Doyle quoted above seem incredibly appropriate today.