My mind went a'wanderin in the shower yesterday. That happens a lot. Sometimes, I think of good blog posts in the shower. But I seldom remember them ... which can be frustrating.
I cast my mind back to 1968. Don't ask me why. Me 'ead kind of works in random shuffle mode, and I never know what tune will play next.
I was back in university and remembering the time near the end of my second semester when I dropped in at my former employer, ITE Circuit Breakers. I had worked there as a Production Clerk for a little more than a year between high school and university and was wondering if they would like to employ me for the summer.
The supervisor that I spoke to seemed warm to the notion and assured me that HR would call, so back I went to school with dollar signs dancing in my head.
After several weeks of hearing nothing, I made plans to enroll in the summer semester and even booked a residence room with the same roommate of my first two semesters.
Eventually, ITE did call back — twice. Apparently, they wanted me after all. But by then, my mind was settled on doing the summer semester. I went on to do 8 consecutive semesters without summer breaks, which got me into the workforce a year earlier.
So with warm water cascading down my back 47 years later, I cogitated how different my life might have been had I accepted their offer of employment that summer.
Teaching jobs were getting tight, and it might have been more difficult to land one a year later, and it might very well have been in a different place.
The increased year in school might have altered the date of our marriage (but not to whom) and what kids I had. Perhaps we would have conceived at a different time, and even if we had had the standard two children, they might have been two different children.
Coulda woulda shoulda: my meandering thoughts signify nothing, and I have no conclusions. I seldom do have conclusions. I just let my mind wander on its random shuffle mode (I say "let" but I have little control) and I never know where my thoughts will take me — except for down the drain with the soap suds
Down the drain is the only certainty in life.
i agree - that one decision could have shifted everything else. :)
ReplyDeleteJohn, it's dangerous to look back and think about what could have been, especially if you aren't all that happy. But since you are, you reflections are just that.
ReplyDeleteOne different decision could have changed things in other people's lives too. Oh, that is way too confusing to think about!
ReplyDeleteHave you seen the movie Sliding Doors with Gwyneth Paltrow (1998)? It hinges on a plot line where a young woman either makes it through closing doors onto and elevator, or doesn't, and depicts the two divergent paths her life would take, based on each scenario. I found it to be an idea that came back time after time. So many ways a life can go different, just based on one event changing, like tweaking a fractal.
ReplyDeleteFun post. Gets me thinking. Only, mostly I try to figure out what my schedule is for the day as I shower. And then forget half of it, of course.
ReplyDeleteLooking back at the forks in the road can be fun, sometimes. Other times, not so much.
We are seeing blue sky as of now. And a good lot of snow should get away today, with luck.
Do not drop the soap!
Down the drain with the soap suds. I like that line. No point in regrets after the fact. You can't undo it anyway!
ReplyDelete"Down the drain" ... is that the leaky one that cost $800 to fix? For that amount I'm pretty sure that Brian would have driven up to fix it...he's always wanted to visit Canada !
ReplyDeletePS: so good to have you back to the blogging world. I got caught up and love all the photos.
A wandering mind can be dangerous if left untended for too long.
ReplyDelete