Can you imagine if this phrase, which was suggested to the Canadian Government at the time, had been accepted? What a missed opportunity. Happy Birthday would be, “Happy Birth-deh!” It would have created so much humour and interest worldwide, the fondness for our country would probably have increased.
The Whitewater News editor’s resignation recently left me with sadness. We had a good working relationship for 12 years and she was always the “boss.” I didn’t even know I could ‘scribe’ until Connie (then the Cobden Sun editor) heard of my interest and came to see me. Moments later, she tossed me the office keys. She didn’t ask for references or a police check, she only said, “pick up the camera at the office for your first assignment on the weekend at the Cobden Farmer’s Market.” Talk about stress! I had not used a camera since Kodak times and did not know where the Cobden Sun was located.
About four years later, I missed out on something significant which involved Connie. It slipped away but shouldn’t have. She had an assignment to cover a parachute jump by the Sky-Hawks at the Petawawa Airport from inside the plane. The day before, she informed me there was room for another passenger and I jumped at the chance. We met at the airport. There was one delay after another, first someone was running late, then a bit of windy weather. The last word was an additional 45 minutes before departure. I went for a long walk to curb my impatience. Upon returning, Connie had disappeared. I raced outside to the airfield only to see her boarding the plane. I screamed, “wait for me,” but it was too late. I was bitterly disappointed. Finally those parachuting left the plane, then the plane landed. The ecstatic Connie was escorted off. When she spotted me she yelled, “take a picture of me with this officer.” I did and it made it into publication, but was a small price compared to missing out on the flight.
I lost out again recently when the flood waters came to visit our shores. A two-day bus trip to Montreal for our social club (April 30 – May 2) was rightfully cancelled because of the many friends and neighbours of our group in trouble. A few weeks before, a brown envelope arrived in the mail from an anonymous sender. In it were two tickets for Cirque du Soleil on the second night of trip. As enthused as I was about these great seats for the performance, I was haunted by not knowing who could have done such a nice thing for us. I thought of everyone who may have been the benefactor, even questioning some likely suspects with trickery, but to no avail. Then the unfortunate news about the cancellation. The only downside to what was a generous proposal was from that moment on, it meant I had to be extra nice to everyone as anyone could have been the ticket source.
Some years ago along the East Coast, a small community was having an open town meeting about some financial problems they were facing. One man no one seemed to know, who was visiting in that area had just dropped in. He started to make a comment on a project but was interrupted; so he kept still and then left early. Someone arriving late came in and said breathlessly, “what was he doing here? Is he going to help us?” The others replied, “who are you talking about?” “You mean you don’t know? That was John D. Rockefeller,” said the person who just arrived. “His yacht is in our harbour.”
When I was in my early teens I got a job with a large company in Hamilton – a stranger to the city. Only a month later I got poison ivy on my face and eyes. The only woman in the group took pity on me. She brought in lotions and salves for the swelling and coached me to take care of it until it was finally cured.
Then a wicked invitation. She invited me to go with her and her husband to their nudist camp for a weekend. Alarm bells went off – triggering me to freeze. I pictured myself extremely self-conscious wearing no clothes in front of many nudists and all them assessing my attributes. I finally mustered enough composure to say, “thanks for the offer but I’ll have to pass.” Still, I wonder what might have been lost. To be with a group of starker’s and be able to brag about it.
All of those regrets in life; the missed opportunities you wish you could do over. Sometimes it keeps you up at night or inhibits the pursuit of other dreams. You can only find peace by forgiving yourself – it’s the only way forward!
