I see life as a quest, which makes me sound restless and possibly dissatisfied with my lot. I'm glad to say that my quest through life is one of wide-eyed wonder. I walk through beautiful lands, sometimes peaceful sometimes rugged. I meet people, sometimes friends, sometimes not. But all the variation goes to make such a rich tapestry. I value the dark times, the down times. They show me the black path, a path that should be understood and avoided, and I learn. I cherish the laughing, with friends, bubbling good times for that is what makes life worthwhile. I do not need to ask the question "Why are we here?" When my life feels good then I know that the joy of living is the only reason I need to exist.
 
There is one single thing that I cherish most in life, I discovered it on my quest.
 
Quest
I saw a mountain far away
Its summit dark and grey
I pulled tight my belt
This would I felt
Be a slog of more than just a day
Above the gloom
There is a boon
A prize that's for the taking
And on this journey
I must go
It will either break or be my making
This trip I knew
Would test me true
And try to grind me down
And on my way
I saw, with dismay
The bones of others all around
And why should I
I hear them cry
Have been so sorely tested?
Now you see
The truth for me
Is a vision I have been cursed
Or blessed with
If I prevail
Where others fail
And use my wits to beat the odds
If I succeed in thought and deed
Then my reward will be
The power of the Gods
For when I believe in me
And know
There is nothing I cannot do
My time on this beautiful
But testing world
Will finally be through
What great adventures
Will then pass my way
I really cannot say
But I have learned this
That through the mist
And on the darkest day
The only gold
You should seek to hold
Is the true friendship
You find along the way
 
Copyright  Alan Mardell 2000
 

Dedicated to my good friend Dave who has put a lot of work into sorting out my accounts.