I admit, I laughed out loud when you wrote, "Is it too much to ask to have an entire state park to myself for a few hours?" and I shouted "Yes!" with a giggle to my screen.
But I get it, cause I've been there for sure. I was struck by your thought processes in the beginning that I could definitely relate to. Sort of the knee-jerk urge to see others as a bother, to assume that they're not as 'real' or their reasons for wanting to engage with something like the woods isn't as valid or heartfelt. That me being the sole person out there soul searching has a better reason, and therefore, more 'right' to be there than the people who are out there with their kids.
It can be hard in the fit our frustrated human self throws to let ourselves see the others out there as maybe searching for a special moment with their children. They were maybe searching for that peace you were and feeling frustrated that their kids weren't in the same headspace. Maybe the kids were frustrated that they imagined their experience would be more fun than it was feeling. All the screaming and tree-climbing their way of trying to find that elusive moment in the woods they were searching for.
I felt like that dad voice was saying much the same thing you were. There was an idea of the way the day would feel or go.
Seemed like a lot of people in that state park were searching, and many were disappointed. At least until they can let go of the expectations and let the day be what it was.
Yet, even when you did that in the end, you come up with "I've got nothing," which I, as a reader, interpreted as a solid callback to the theme of keel hauling. Even once the 'price' for the punishment is paid with the suffering in the trip under the ship/through the woods, and perhaps a lesson is learned, it doesn't change that there might not still be long-lasting injuries or repercussions from having had the experience. In your case, to come out with nothing on the page after all the strife of getting to the place where the 'punishment' was finally over, feels a little metaphorical of a lasting head injury after being tugged under the keel of a ship!
Possibly not at all your desired intention, but as your reader, that was what I took! :>
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But I get it, cause I've been there for sure. I was struck by your thought processes in the beginning that I could definitely relate to. Sort of the knee-jerk urge to see others as a bother, to assume that they're not as 'real' or their reasons for wanting to engage with something like the woods isn't as valid or heartfelt. That me being the sole person out there soul searching has a better reason, and therefore, more 'right' to be there than the people who are out there with their kids.
It can be hard in the fit our frustrated human self throws to let ourselves see the others out there as maybe searching for a special moment with their children. They were maybe searching for that peace you were and feeling frustrated that their kids weren't in the same headspace. Maybe the kids were frustrated that they imagined their experience would be more fun than it was feeling. All the screaming and tree-climbing their way of trying to find that elusive moment in the woods they were searching for.
I felt like that dad voice was saying much the same thing you were. There was an idea of the way the day would feel or go.
Seemed like a lot of people in that state park were searching, and many were disappointed. At least until they can let go of the expectations and let the day be what it was.
Yet, even when you did that in the end, you come up with "I've got nothing," which I, as a reader, interpreted as a solid callback to the theme of keel hauling. Even once the 'price' for the punishment is paid with the suffering in the trip under the ship/through the woods, and perhaps a lesson is learned, it doesn't change that there might not still be long-lasting injuries or repercussions from having had the experience. In your case, to come out with nothing on the page after all the strife of getting to the place where the 'punishment' was finally over, feels a little metaphorical of a lasting head injury after being tugged under the keel of a ship!
Possibly not at all your desired intention, but as your reader, that was what I took! :>