Hopeful beginnings

A lot of my daydreams — probably a sign I’m getting old — involve “if I went back in time I would do this or I wouldn’t do that.” For almost every beginning, even those that have brought their share of happiness, as most of my novels have there are regrets and qualifications. Even at a more mundane level, if I could go back, I’d keep most of our cats, but I’d probably have given Randy a pass — not being sure we were the best for him, or he for us.

Life is like that, though, you make the best decision you can at the time and then you stand by your commitments and you life with the consequences.

Two things I wouldn’t change if I could go back. One is the kids. In fact, if some mad scientist or supernatural being offered tomorrow to send my mind back to the past, they’d have to promise me I still would have the same kids at about the same time, and they’d be about the same. OTHER kids optional, but I like the ones I have.

The other would be the event on December 28, 1985. The only thing I can say is if I knew how nice it is to be married, I’d have married Dan four years earlier, instead of going back to Portugal and college. :) But then I might have other kinds of regrets.

As is, twenty five years in, I’m pretty happy. Will report back in another twenty five.

As we’re about to begin a new year, may all our new beginnings be as good.