Sandy Supposes....

What If

PROMPT July 3rd

Describe a missed opportunity you encountered, and how things might have been different if you hadn't missed it.

         While I could best be described as a bouncing baby, my parents made the decision to leave Canada and relocate to Arizona. From what I've gleaned from family lore they had gone so far as to acquire visas, pack luggage, and assure the transmission of medical records to a new physician. They were ready to make a drastic move far from friends and family.

         This had not been a spontaneous choice, but a medical one. My Mom had been diagnosed with a lung condition that exacerbated her asthma and dry desert air had been seen as a coping mechanism. We were all prepared for a new lifestyle.

         As with most difficult decisions, my parents struggled. In the end, they chose to remain in Canada which may have been a blessing. My mother would undergo major surgery that removed lobes from both lungs. How could they have afforded this as newcomers to the States? Who could have helped them during her recovery?

         So, what I am saying is I could've been an Arizonian, Arizonite, citizen of Arizona. Huh. I'd be parlaying in Americanese right now. I suppose I wouldn't end my phrases with 'eh.' The flag I'd salute would be slightly different in appearance. I may never have tasted tortiere, beaver tails, maple syrup, or poutine. Oh no! Tim Horton's would not exist in that world. Could I purchase a cup of hot steeped tea without being given iced tea? Where would I toboggan? Could I build a snowman?

         When I became of marriageable age, haha, who even says that anymore, I most likely would not have met my current spouse a former competitive figure skater. Are they rare in Arizona? I mean I fell on him and everything, so that would never happen. Yes, I employed a rather impressive move to get his attention. I tripped down a flight of stairs at 'my' high school and he broke most of my tumble. He delights in telling people I fell for him which I cannot dispute.

         I would not have recently celebrated Canada Day or bothered to memorize the lyrics to 'O Canada.' Would I have traversed this great country from coast to coast? Would I have learned to speak Spanish instead of French?

         Ah, the 'what ifs' are endless.