A Single File and

Walking single file is an accomplishment that takes far longer to master than you anticipate.

It is one of the first commands we learn early in life, most likely in kindergarten. However, it isn’t much longer before we are taught the second edict, “Find your partner.”

And of course we all did. Some remained a permanent part of our lives; some of us had only one whom we treasured; others had more than one and sometimes two. Still we each learned the value of having a companion, a partner, in the line we all walk through life.

Then sometimes without warning; occasionally with an alert, the scenario changes again, and we find ourselves walking single file once more.

In the beginning it seems easy, almost simplistic. After all, it was one of the first things we had been taught to do and we can resume the practice easily. Or so it seemingly appears for a time.

Then suddenly, at different times for everyone of us, we become acutely aware, walking single file is one of the hardest things to relearn in life

When the bright sunshine begins to blind you, and you reach out for a partner’s hand to steady yourself, there is no one in line next to you.

When the music plays a tune bringing you back to a moonlight evening, the partner who held your hand and shared the night's silvery magic, is no longer there.

When you forget for a brief moment that you now walk single file and make a favorite recipe of yore, it lasts for weeks in the freezer. Eventually you toss it away and reluctantly, finally admit you now walk absolutely alone.

Most days we all master walking single file again and stumble less and less. Then without warning, something occurs and you mistakenly reach for your life's partner. That is the moment when you totally comprehend that from now on you will evermore walk in a solitary line and can never go back in time.

Single file is a precise art, requiring discipline and eventually, we all do manage to walk once more in a straight line and never falter or chance falling by the wayside. That is because we are all capable of reclaiming one of the earliest commands we were taught early in life. The only difference is that it seemed like fun the first time, and not so much, the second time around.