Falling Down the Manhole

Have you ever heard the term "Falling down the rabbit hole"? If you went to school EVER chances are you have... from that wonderful, magical book Alice In Wonderland you read growing up. Or maybe you saw the awesome Disney cartoon or rode the rides at Disneyland (the teacups have always been a favorite of mine- except for when I barfed when I was 6). Or more recently maybe you sat and drooled or wrinkled your nose at Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter in the new Tim Burton film (which I thought was wack- even after 3 cocktails, and may I add that Johnny Depp, although sexy, is weird-even in person!!) You may have even seen that crazy live action version that aired around Thanksgiving like 20 years ago where Carol Channing played the White Queen and infamously sang the song about "Jam tomorrow, Jam yesterday but never ever Jam today!"- that was my favorite moment in that movie!
Anyway-no matter where or how you were introduced to Alice in Wonderland and the tale of her curious adventures, you most certainly saw her fall right down that rabbbit hole- into a world of wonder and amazement where everything that's right seems wrong and nothing is what it is or isnt. Nothing seems to make sense, and yet she barrels through trying to find her way home. It's a fantastical journey that really doesn't seem to have any point- and yet- somehow at the other side of the hole- a lesson seems to have been learned. There has to be some reason why Alice falls down that hole- and she does reemerge changed, so to speak for the better.
I often find myself thinking, mostly after a few cocktails of course... if Alice in Wonderland were written now, what would Alice's journey be like? Who would she meet? Where would she go? What would she see? What would her challenges, advesaries and allies be? I kind of think that we are ALL like Alice- and we all travel through our own Wonderlands at different points in our lives- to teach us some sort of lesson that WE need to learn, just like Alice had things she had to learn. People even often use the phrase "I fell down the rabbit hole" to describe some sort of mistake or adventure they went on- say maybe on a Friday night, or a weekend getaway- and when they say that- they are referring to things they did that weren't so great or say...normal. And I think it's a very appropriate way to express where we went during those minutes, hours or days of our folly. It doesn't necessarily always make sense as to why we did it, or who we did it with ;) but it does express where we were when it happened. I met a girl once who told me she no longer drinks alcohol because whenever she did she'd "fall down the rabbit hole" and do things she didn't necessarily normally do and she was not proud of...things that were not safe or wise. But she did say, that like Alice, after having done them, after having gone on that crazy journey a few times over, she learned some valuable lessons and no longer needed to go on that ride.
So, after hearing many people use this phrase in relation to their own lives, I started to think about the times I "fall down the rabbit hole" only for me, because I live in New York City, and because of my affinity for disaster (I was hit by a cab, robbed twice, chased by a man off the subway...), men and construction workers (they love me)... I thought it appropriate to coin the phrase "falling down the man hole" instead! I seem to "fall down the man hole" a lot...and let me tell you it aint always pretty! Like one time, after several cocktails at a cabaret type show with some friends... I got so worked up over a man, and my career or lack thereof, I stumbled out of the Laurie Beechman with tears in my eyes, got 2 Gray's Papaya cheeseburgers and a slice of pizza (that's like 2,5000 calories!) and walked home sobbing whilst being comforted by homeless men, taxi drivers, and sailors, all the while texting my best friend about how my life was in the toilet while I kept her awake from 1am to 3am (She was almost no longer my BF by the morning), and I am lucky I didn't actually fall INTO a real manhole that night! I never did aagain! Another time, I became so consumed by a guy I liked...who was most definitely not good for me....that I STALKED HIM on facebook!!! (That's another topic for later...and we all do it....) But its not like I didnt have anything better or more important to do! And, another time I met a celebrity, who shall remain nameless , over drinks, and I knew he was flirting awfully hard...yet when it came time to say goodbye...finish that one on your own....:)
These are all kinda silly stories in retrospect but I did always learn something each time it happened, and at least THOSE manholes never happened again! Even though I made some mistakes and tried some things that didn't work, I was always wiser after it happened, and had a stronger sense of who I'm meant to be.
So anyway, maybe what I'm asking is what was Lewis Carroll trying to tell us all so many years ago with this crazy ass, psychadelic piece of fantasy? Everything's better when you're high...or drunk of course!! No...just kidding... I think it means, don't be afraid to take a risk or go on that crazy ride, or fall down that hole, because it might be just the thing you need to help yourself slay those inner dragons (or jaberwocky in Alice's case) that are holding you back, and be the bigger, stronger person you were meant to be! If you fall down a rabbit hole, or a man hole if you live in New York City, just climb back out. And think about this...maybe that hole was put there on purpose...so you'd fall in... learn that lesson...and experience something that leads you to your dharma and makes you into who youre meant to be!...The perfect thing, job or person might even be waiting there to help pick you up...but if it's/he/she's not...you can do with without them! Who needs a white rabbbit, Cheshire cat or Door mouse anyway :)