Over the Edge of the Wild

In a peaceful little town in the deserts of Utah there lived a girl who had once (or twice-ish) been accused of being a hobbit. It's true that she was short, had big brown eyes and curly hair that she often attempted to tame with her flat iron. She was good-natured, clever, loved to laugh and was loyal to a fault. She even observed all the correct hobbit meal times (Breakfast, Second Breakfast, Elevenses, Lunch, Afternoon tea, Dinner and Supper.) Unlike other Hobbits, however, her gardening skills were atrocious, she didn't smoke pipe tobacco and she had no hair on her feet (Oh fine! Maybe a tiny bit, but you would be better off never to mention it!) She had gotten in the habit of sticking close to home, living a quiet, unassuming life. Until one fateful day near Christmas time.....

On this day her sweetheart of 18 years asked for a divorce. Yes, it's true my dear readers. Not all stories have happy endings. "So comes snow after fire, and even dragons have their endings..." (J.R.R. Tolkien) Fortunately, the girl/hobbit and her not at all hobbit-like sweetheart, Tyson, still cared about each other very deeply and remained the best of friends (There! The evidence of the depth of her loyalty!) She had always been the Sam to his Frodo and didn't want that to change, despite the differences they couldn't mend as easily as a hobbit fence. The girl/hobbit and her sweetheart were still unequivocally joined in their quest and intended to see it through (In this case, the quest was the successful raising of their four adorable, yet exceptionally tall, hobbit children.) During their many sad, heartfelt discussions it was often said that "Where there's life there's hope." (J.R.R. Tolkien) and no truer statement was ever uttered before or since.

For quite some time the girl/hobbit experienced a period of darkness like she had never felt before. The light at the end of the tunnel seemed fearfully distant.

"It cannot be seen, it cannot be felt, 

Cannot be heard, cannot be smelt. 

It lies behind stars and under hills, 

And empty holes its fills, 

It comes first and follows after, 

Ends life, kills laughter." 

(J.R.R. Tolkien - riddle answer: darkness) 

"But in the end it's only a passing thing, this shadow; even darkness must pass." Sam Gamgee

At this point in the story you may assume that Gandalf or some such powerful wizard came along and said "I am looking for someone to share in an adventure that I am arranging, and it's very difficult to find anyone." And she would have responded with "I should think so -- In these parts! We are plain quiet folk and have no use for adventures. Nasty disturbing uncomfortable things! Make you late for dinner!" But, alas, this was not Middle Earth and wizards were currently in short supply. So the hobbit/girl took the advice of the noble hobbit of legend, Bilbo Baggins, and said " 'Go back? No good at all! Go sideways? Impossible! Go forward? Only thing to do! On we go!' So up she got, and trotted along with her little sword held in front of her and one hand feeling the wall, and her heart all of a patter and a pitter." It was at this point that Amber stopped. Going on from there was the bravest thing she ever did. The tremendous things that happened afterward were as nothing compared to it. She fought the real battle in the tunnel alone, before she ever saw the vast danger that lay in wait."

Fortunately, Amber, the hobbit/girl of this narrative, had the most important hobbit characteristics of all; a Tookish sense of stubbornness and a craving for happiness, adventure, and to enjoy life to the fullest! "Then something Tookish woke up inside her, and she wished to go and see the great mountains, and hear the pine-trees and the waterfalls, and explore the caves, and wear a sword instead of a walking stick." (J.R.R. Tolkien) This blog is intended to chronicle the adventures of Hobbit Amber and her four hobbit children. Even the unhobbit-like sweetheart may make an occasional appearance due to his role in the great, and all important, Child Raising Quest. Will you join me in our grand, and sometimes not so grand escapades? Will you set off with me into the unknown? "I am looking for someone to share in an adventure." 

"There are no safe paths in this part of the world. Remember you are over the Edge of the Wild now, and in for all sorts of fun wherever you go!"