Decades ago as a young man in the United States Air Force I was trained and served as a communications analysis. This was during the “cold war” and one of my duties was to write reports on what the military of the old Soviet Union (USSR) was up to. These reports were based upon the best signal intelligence, often photo intelligence and known Soviet command structure or historic precedence.
Even with the best of information, there was the possibility the conclusions were wrong and all reports were required to be written with abundant factual qualifier adverbs–probably and possibly. I’d have long discussions with my boss about how strong the data was and should the wording use probably or possibly. Like most things you practice, I became good at using these two words whenever I couldn’t be 100% sure of something.
After doing this for a number of years using these qualifiers became an art form for me. When I completed a tour at the National Security Agency my civilian boss and co-workers presented me with a plaque testifying to my ability to say so much with so little details or facts–I believe it was meant as a compliment of how well I did my job. ;-)
This practice was ingrained in my writing and I’m still haunted with the overly liberal use of probably and possibly. One of my last editing steps is to go through and remove any unneeded uses of these two qualifiers.
When I saw this tree trunk carved with these absolute confirmations of love and commitment I had to grin. No doubt this would be a place where probably or possibly could have been well used–how many of these people are still together? If you look in the upper right hand corner you’ll notice in 2009 Heather was replace with Emily and the tree was properly updated–how funny!
In our lives there are often points where we believe something is absolute, and for the moment perhaps it is. Only later where we have more information or experience and are viewing things from a different perspective do we realize what once we were so sure of we now doubt. I’ve had my share of these experiences and hard lessons learned.
Moving smoothly through life is often about balance, having beliefs but being appropriately curious, skeptical and flexible. Not all news is true or bad, not all photos are actual representations and even those things carved in stone (or a tree trunk) may not be absolute.
If the tree lives to be of sufficient age, the carving wounds will heal over. I often wonder if the wounds of young love ever totally heal.
Very interesting post Earl – moving from spy work to tree carvings in a few paragraphs! :-)
Dealing with uncertainty is what makes life interesting – probably!
What a great post, Earl. Very pertinent for me, thank you for posting. Somehow, I often hear what I need to hear when I need to hear it. Much appreciated.
Mary Ann
@Steve Skinner – Those first wounds of love often seem the deepest–but luckily they are seldom fatal. ;-)
@Mark – I can’t claim to know where some of these post are going to go when I start them. At least it makes the blogs name (Meandering Passage) seem very appropriate — possibly?
@QPB (Mary Ann) – Thank you so much. I’m pleased you found the post to be relevant.
A fine picture and even better comment. The corrected name and added “new love” is very funny to me. I hope you are have the best Thanksgiving ever…
Probably one of the better stories that I possibly ever heard :D
@don – Thanks, I find that part very funny too.
@Andreas Manessinger – Thank-you