The hardest thing to learn in life is which bridge to cross and which to burn. - David Russell
Have you ever wondered about the choices you have made in life. I'm willing to bet five will get you ten everyone has produced at least one mistake. It's human nature and no one is perfect. Perhaps some misjudgments seemed minor while other bad ideas were very critical. Either way we are not flawless. That is reality.
One of many outstanding, superb and fantastic lines in the 1986 Academy Award Winner movie "Platoon" is when Staff Sgt. Barnes (Tom Berenger 1949-) says "I am reality. There's the way it ought to be. And there's the way it is. Reality is the absolute real world and life."
I had two goals my concluding days of high school. One was become a firefighter for the City of Hamilton, Ontario (I'll get back to that in a moment) and the other was to be Head Coach for a Senior Secondary School football team also in Hamilton. I did accomplish both objectives but they weren't what I expected. The 1969 song titled "Is That All There Is" by Peggy Lee is very relevant and meaningful.
Timing is an enormous component not just in sports but also in our movie of existence and survival. Occasionally people have second thoughts after they have implemented decisions but sometimes it's too late. I've experienced those circumstances more than a few times.
What if my E.A. (Executive Assistant) decided to permanently reside in Youngstown, Ohio with her ex-husband and not return to Hamilton.
What if a long-time friend of mine elected to remain at Dupont in Kingston, Ontario as a technician instead of resigning in his early years.
What if another long-time friend gave a different answer at his final interview for the Metropolitan Toronto Police Dept. circa 1974. Chances are because of his reply he wasn't hired.
What if Adolf Hitler (1889-1945) was accepted into the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna, Austria in 1907 or 1908 as an artist.
Speaking of interviews, I was fresh out of high school when I had an interview in the final stage of the hiring procedure for the Hamilton, Ontario Fire Dept. in the fall of 1973. The Deputy Chief asked me, "What are your strong qualities?" I replied, "I'm easy going and get along with people." He then asked, "What are your weak features?" I hesitated for a couple of seconds and answered, "My mother says I don't have any patience."
DUH! What a fucking idiot. Did I ever blow it. Obviously, I was never hired. I have always pondered, what if I would've responded with something less stupid and lame brained. I didn't shoot myself in the foot. I blew my head off. However, after two more attempts I was finally hired in 1981.
What if I continued to date my first girlfriend while enrolled in Grade 11 at Westmount Secondary School instead of dumping her and giving no reason. I was a self-centered, selfish jerk.
What if my biological parents decided to raise me as their son and not give me up for adoption.
In 1983 I had a date with a beautiful and very attractive mid-twentyish lady who worked at my bank as a customer service representative. Let's call her Kelly. Meanwhile that was her real name. We went out for dinner (I can't remember where) but nothing transpired into a future relationship. Every so often I wonder, what if we had connected?
What if I didn't go to Kelsey's Roadhouse for a few beers on the Friday summer night in 1984 when I met my ex-wife.
What if I didn't quit the Hamilton Fire Dept. as a first-class firefighter in August of 1987? Quite often I think deeply what if I would've stayed on the job? It was definitely and unquestionably the worst decision or choice (call it what you want) I have every made.
Epilogue
As you can see, I'm a soul-searcher. Over the years I've reflected on more than a few incidents in my life. Maybe a lot of folks are in that similar situation. I will wrap things up and close on this note. A part of me will always wonder "WHAT IF?"
The End
The Harvenut Puritan Project
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