Post copyright by Doris McCraw
uest! Once I knew I had the letter Q, this was the only thing I wanted to write about. A person would think that knowing would make the writing easier. Nothing could be further from the truth. When I wrote on the letter E, https://writingwranglersandwarriors.wordpress.com/2015/04/06/elevation-education/, many ideas went through my mind, and the writing was easy. That has not been the case for this one. My analytical mind said, it is because it is so personal, while my creative mind balked at all the possibilities.
The meaning according to Merriam-Webster: (noun) – a journey made in search of something or a long and difficult effort to find or do something (verb) – to go on a journey to find something. The definition could well be the definition of our lives.
Remember the tale of King Arthur, Camelot and the knights of the round table. Through these compilation of stories we get the one of Lancelot and his son Galahad and the quest for the Holy Grail. Here is a link to the early Le Morte D’Arthur by Thomas Mallory, from the Guttenberg Project. http://www.gutenberg.org/files/1251/1251-h/1251-h.htm. This is a quest in the grand tradition.
In the 1970’s there was a television show called “The Quest” with Kurt Russell and Tim Matheson. It is the story of two brothers, separated early in life, who join together in the search for their sister. Although the show never aired all the filmed episodes, the concept of searching for something that was lost, much like the Sir Galahad story, resonated with me. If you would like to know more, here is the wikipedia link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Quest_%281976_TV_series%29. I would say all movies and television shows have ‘the quest’ as the driving force behind their stories.
All of which brings us to our ‘personal’ quest. We all are in search of something. Even when we find it, we will find another quest to pursue. Sometimes it may be something small, like planting a flower pot to place on the porch, to creating a large garden to supply food for the coming year. Maybe it’s writing a small article for the newspaper/magazine or creating the novel that resides in your heart and mind. When completed there is a sense of accomplishment, but not the sense that life is finished. I believe our lives are composed of one quest after another. It is the journey we take to reach that end, the way we live our lives, how we touch others, that is the true gift of ‘the quest’. It is why the stories, of Arthur and the knights of the round table, of Sir Galahad, and even the books, movies and television shows, stay with us long after we have finished watching and reading them.
Many songs also talk about a quest. “Old Man River” from “Showboat” has a line – I get weary and sick of trying, I’m tired of living and scared of dying, but old man river he just keeps rolling along”. That is life in a nut shell, we may get tired, but we keep going. (I’ve always been partial to Paul Robson’s version in the 1939 movie of the play.) “The Sound of Music” is celebrating fifty years. Who hasn’t been moved by the words to “Climb Every Mountain”? Perhaps the strongest and most moving words are from the song “The Impossible Dream”, from the play/movie “Man of La Mancha”. The last lines of the song encapsulate what life and quests are about: And the world, will be better for this, that one man, scorned and covered with scars, still strove, with his last ounce of courage, to reach the unreachable star, We all have within us the need to be more, to love more and live more. When we strive toward the quests of our lives, we invariably impact so many others. More about the movie/play :http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man_of_La_Mancha.
I encourage you to watch the clip from the movie “Man of La Mancha” with Peter O’Toole. https://youtu.be/RfHnzYEHAow
Here is to our lives and the quest we have to live the life of our dreams. May your quests be successful and your life full of many wonderful journeys. Until next time.
http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/p/a-to-z-challenge-sign-uplist-2015.html?m=1
HOME FOR HIS HEART
http://www.amazon.com/Home-His-Heart-Angela-Raines-ebook/dp/B00LU3HZEK/
also available as an ebook on Barnes & Noble and Smashwords.
Doris Gardner-McCraw/Angela Raines
Author, Speaker, Historian-specializing in
Colorado and Women’s History
Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/angelaraines-dorismccraw
Photo and Poem: http://fivesevenfivepage.blogspot.com
Blog: http://renawomyn.blogspot.com/
Writing Wranglers and Warriors 
Good use of the letter “Q” Doris. I’ve never thought of being on a quest, but when I look at through your eyes I see how many quests I’ve been throughout my life. Sometimes the quest has been for more knowledge, the answer to a question, or what color shirt to put on in the morning. Really makes you think and I love a challenge! Great links too!
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I am grateful for your response. To me, life itself is a quest, and a wonderful one. When we look at the gift we are given, how can we not be grateful for the chance to journey to something more. Also glad you enjoyed the links. Here’s to many more wonderful quests Linda. Doris
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Doris, great post. We are all on a quest. And as you say, we finish one and start another. Our characters do need a quest. Cher’ley
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Thank you Cherley. Writers tend to think of quest with their characters, but sometimes fail to realize they are also on a similar journey. This was, while difficult, a fun post to write. Doris
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Love the idea of a quest. I was in a local theater production of Man of La Mancha when I was in high school and this was my first introduction to a “quest.” Great post with much to ponder.
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Erin, “Man of La Mancha” is such a fun and exciting show. I’m glad you have the chance to experience it. I also thank you for the kind words about the post. Perhaps I just think too much (GRIN), but I’ve always enjoyed the idea of quests. It make life and my decisions more important. Doris
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Doris, I’m afraid the link to the clip from Man of Lamancha doesn’t work. This was one of my late husband’s favorite musicals. After his strokes that left him partially paralyzed, we both tried unsuccessfully to reach for that unreachable star, the goal of him walking again.
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Abbie, I’ve attempted to fix that link a couple of times to no avail. I will keep trying. IN the meantime you can go to youtube and type in Impossible Dream, Peter O’Toole and see ti. I am glad you husband liked the show. I have always loved it. The one thing it does do, give hope. Doris
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Life does often feel like a quest–and I do love quest stories. I did an independent study in college to read various retell kings of the Morte d’Arthur stories. Great post–and good use of “Q”!
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Stephanie, The Arthur legends are fascinating, aren’t they? Maybe my mind just loves drama, but quests are so interesting, as is our lives. Doris
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Doris, this is a very captivating and engaging post! I LOVE IT! I watched the TV show “The Quest” when I was young and truly enjoyed it! And, I love all the other shows you mentioned. Your insight and the way you weave all of these elements, including writing, with our lives is SPOT ON! BRAVO! Great post!
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Gayle, High praise indeed. Thank you. This post, although difficult to write, was one that I was determined to post. Quests have always been important to me, not only in history and stories, but personally as well. Doris
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Perhaps God wants us to quest during our lives so as to gain the knowledge and experience needed for the purpose he has set for us for the next eternal phrase in our lives when our mortal questing ends. Questing is one of the great overall themes explored in the fantasy genre. Questing goes back to the very beginnings of literature. The ancients wrote about quests, like the quest for the Golden Fleece. Interestingly, one of the earliest is the tale of Gilgamesh.
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Ah Yes, Gilgamesh. I agree, Mike, we as humans seem to be hardwired to quest. Love your response to the post. Thank you. Doris
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I like to have a quest for the characters in my novels to seek and fulfil. You’ve made me start singing Paul Robeson’s songs now, and not just ‘Old Man River’. My dad loved to listen to Paul Robeson records( some of which I still have in the old very breakable 78s) My dad had an excellent tenor voice and it was sometimes funny to hear him singing along with Paul. My mum also had a great voice but she was a deep contralto!
I now have a song called ‘D-R-I-N-K-I-N-G’ running through my head- a Paul Robeson version that used to make me shiver when he got to the very last extremely low note. 🙂
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Paul was one of those voices that just breathed life into the lyrics he sang. Always one of my favorites. Thanks for stopping by and letting me in on a part of your life.
Those characters we write, they just become so much more with a quest. Doris
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Loved your post. Yes, we quest in many ways I think, from the time we are born! Loved the reference to the songs, they are all favorites of mine. Great use of “Q”.
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Neva, I thank you. I grew up with music and it is a part of who I am. Music’s stories ring in my ear all the time, especially musicals, because of theater. Here is to a finding of our ‘Impossible Dreams’. Doris
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Interesting choice for the letter Q. What a nice way of looking at life.
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Thank you S. J., my thought is, ‘it is better to be on a quest than sitting around doing nothing’. (Smile) Here’s to the next big quest for wonderful photographs that you catch S. J. Doris
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