One Word: Titanic!

Titanic. The literal meaning of this word according to the English dictionary is ‘of/or containing titanium, especially in the tetravalent state’. After reading this I was now faced with the task of looking up the word ‘tetravalent’ and then soon after the word ‘valence’. Finally the goose had been caught and I discovered that in its most basic sense ‘Titanic’ is something that contains titanium to the sum of four. The word ‘Titan’ is then also offered to me as a reminder of its enormous size, strength and power. So, it’s no wonder that the tragically infamous and (at the time) largest ship in the world containing 4 huge funnels (one of which was fake), was given, quite frankly, it’s only suitable name. 

Many people ask me why I have such a fascination with the British luxury liner that sank in the North Atlantic Sea after colliding with an iceberg and killing over 1,500 people resulting in several court cases, changes in law and conspiracy theories. [PAUSE FOR THOUGHT] …I’m not sure if the previous sentence in itself sums this up, but if it doesn’t then I will continue in a way that perhaps you’ll understand better. 

Imagine running a marathon. You train and you train for years and years, until both your mind and body become completely entwined with one another, creating the ultimate machine that can, and will, take on anything in its course. Nothing will stand in its way, not even that delicious bar of the most incredible tasting chocolate known to man, or even that 350grams of Cathedral City Cheddar that just won’t quit. Finally after successfully avoiding all of the above, the day of the 26 mile run arrives. All of your friends and family wave you off at the starting point as you race forward passing everyone in sight, and looking quite literally forward to that all important finishing line and what it may bring. 

The half-way point comes and goes and you have only stopped twice to sip some spring water, and to tie up your shoe lace (silly mistake). As your breath becomes stable and you can almost see the end of the road ahead of you, you begin to feel super pleased and proud with yourself and your ability to speed up during the last 4 miles when all of a sudden, BAM - you hit the wall! You stop! You can’t move forward, you can’t move backwards, so you just stop. That’s all you can do.

Slowly but yet surely your legs give way and collapse sinking down to the ground, without much warning at all. You hit the hard concrete pavement below as the loud crashing sound of your limbs attracts a worried crowd. You lie there hopelessly on the floor as the medics run over with bandages in hand, to assist you as you continue screaming out for help. But they are just too late, and there is no chance for you now. After being told that you will never run a marathon again you realise, this is it for you now. Your legs are in ruins. Your time has come and gone. This is the end of the line and your running days will remain ‘only in your memory’. 

…Now imagine that, add a couple of thousand people, a large boat and some ice and you’ve got the Titanic! Fascinating stuff right?! ...Oh well, a girl can try.