a farewell to arms; a muddy rain drenched stroll across Italy

a farewell to arms;  a muddy rain drenched stroll across Italy

fiction
Edward w Pritchard


Life is like a scene from Ernest Hemingway's retreat scene in Italy in World War One in his novel " A Farewell to Arms".

 Every one in Italy is retreating in the face of the German advance. All is in Chaos.

The Lieutenant played in the movie version by Gary Cooper and in a later version by Rock Hudson is leading his friend the Italian surgeon who has gone half mad with battle fatigue. They must walk because the ambulance has broken down and hundreds of refugees crowd the roads. Refugees are strafed by planes as they march in the dark across rain drenched muddy roads cluttered with the cast off possessions of the dead and dying.

The surgeon who is an Italian major is accused of being a German agent or sympathizer and is tried and shot. The lieutenant moments before he is to be executed bolts away and dives in a raging river to escape.

After herculean struggles the lieutenant throws off his uniform and allegiances and seeks only his life back.

Struggle on. Chose life. Bad times do not last forever. Some good happens, some bad too, just keep marching forward.

March through a wet crowded chaotic landscape. Tomorrow will be better. Reclaim your life.