Posted on August 16th, 2008 by Jean
Pick 5 major points in your life, and tweak them to imagine the *what if*.
1. What if I hadn’t moved with my family back to California after graduating high school in Reno?
Right after graduation, my parents moved us back to northern California. I was a naive, newly 18 young adult who never considered the option of staying in Reno where I had been for the past 6 years. I didn’t look into staying with friends, finding a job, or establishing myself in the town I had grown to love. So I packed up, and headed out, like a good daughter. If I had stayed in Reno, I’m sure my boyfriend and I would have still gone our separate ways. My best friend (to this day) and I would have possibly lived together in the house she was awarded in her Father’s will. I may have experimented with drugs, or worked in my girlfriend’s record store. Being away from the familiar forced me to take a step in defining myself, and not just following others on their ride.
2. What if I hadn’t waited outside that bathroom for that guy to emerge?
That guy became my first husband. Although the marriage did not work, it was a part of my life I had to experience to lead me to the better parts! Had I not obviously waited outside of the men’s room, I’m sure I would have devised another way to meet him.
3. What if I had walked out of that restaurant when husband number 1 asked for a divorce?
We’d still be divorced, but I would have had the satisfaction of walking out on him. Instead, I cried into my menu.
4. What if I hadn’t accepted a date with that other guy, the one who was old enough to be my father?
That other guy became husband number 2. If I hadn’t accepted the date, I’d probably still be in California near my family, and still working in banking. Instead, I accepted the date, moved in with him, married him, quit my job, traveled the U.S. in a motorhome, spent 2 winters in Sarasota, Florida, 1 year in Appleton, Wisconsin, and finally settled into my current state, Arizona.
5. What if I hadn’t returned to banking?
I would have never met my current husband, nor had our beautiful daughters. If I hadn’t been a teller waiting on customer him, I’d probably still be living in a rural part of AZ, going to yard sales, selling items on ebay, and trying to have a baby.<
A lot of you already know these parts of my life. I’m so glad the negative situations had silver linings.
I’m not going to tag anyone, but if you self-tag, please let me know!
Tags: alternate, reality, tag
