Stumbling toward knowledge: Enacting and embodying qualitative research

Picture two women walking into a train station, each with her suitcase packed in perfect order. They are engaged in conversation, yet external events unbeknownst to their fellow travelers also flood their thoughts. Their intellectual reading material is tucked purposefully in a side compartment for easy access on this journey, while their under-garments and personal journals are hidden safely away. These women have purchased their tickets months in advance and are taking sure and deliberate strides toward their assigned train. As they walk, though, the train that they were to board begins pulling away from the station. They make a feeble attempt to catch it, but a latch on one suitcase springs open to reveal what was inside. Temporarily dismayed, the women look at each other with questioning eyes for an understanding of how best to clean up that which has sprung open before them and disrupted their order. They realize that neither has a fool-proof answer.