What are your Desire Lines? : My Daily Peace

My Daily Peace

the daily ramblings of a freelance writer & editor

I have been enamored with the British canoeist (John Darwin) who faked his own drowning death (pseudocide) only to be “reunited” with his wife (Anne) and create a new life together in Panama. Evidently, the house they were living in when his “accident” occurred was rigged with secret entrances so John could continue living there even during his afterlife. After some time the couple became nervous and moved to Panama, which is what ultimately got them caught. A woman Googled “John, Anne, Panama” and a photo of the couple (deceased husband and all) were happily living in Panama together. Supposedly their two children didn’t even know their father was still alive, which I find hard to believe.

This whole story made me think about how many people want to disappear or start over. Hindsight is 20/20 but paths not taken can be more difficult than the ones you do take because as Lucille Ball said, “I’d rather regret the things I’ve done than regret the things I haven’t done.” This is where the desire lines come in. You know those well worn paths on grass that show where pedestrians really want to walk? Those are called desire lines, and I think they can apply to this need to have a redo. To be able to do what you want to do and pattern a nice path to follow, in the hope that everything else will fall into place, because it usually does, is a worthwhile pursuit. Because following your desire lines may prevent your desire for pseudocide.