What would have happened IF...

So I am driving home towards Boston from my graduate class in Manchester, NH last Saturday and I see a sign for Rivier College.  I think to myself, "huh...I wonder what would have happened if I went there?"  In high school I was recruited by the basketball coach to play ball there.  It was kind of unique because the college had just gone from an all girls school to co-ed.  During my official visit to the college, there was literally only one male student on campus, who was also the b-ball team's first recruit.  My freshman year was going to be the first year of Men's Basketball for the college, so I would have been a part of a historic accomplishment for the school.  And also had great odds with the ladies, but I digress.  I didn't go there.

But it got me to thinking about how many "what if" situations there are in life. 
- What if I applied myself in high school, could I have gotten into a prestigious college?
- What if I took this job instead of that job, etc?

There a million different scenarios you can think of.  But then I got to thinking of all the "WHAT IFS" were involved in me meeting Kristin back in 2000.  And all of the things that had to happen for our relationship to grow.  Here are just some of the variables that contributed:
* The scheduling of a Bachelor and Bachelorette Party on the same day (9/9/00) at the same location.
* Kristin wearing her blonde hair in pigtails that night, thus catching my eye and immediately comparing her to actress Heather Graham, and me actually having the balls to talk to her and the rest of her group.  Which was not exactly something I would typically do.
* The fact that Kristin worked at a Business School and at the time I was working on a construction project building a Business School and I made a big deal of that connection and that it was "fate" or some other liquid confidence fueled statement.
* Kristin making a big deal about having two "I's" in her first name and two "E's" in her last name.
* Which made it easier for me to track her down after not having the guts to ask her for her phone number that night, but remember the Haaahvad Business School connection, her name, and by process of elimination, finding her work number to call her.
* The fact that she remembered enough about me (or thought she did) to call me back.
* Her working at a brewfest in Sturbridge the next day and suggesting we meet there.  And Barry willing to meet to go along to the fest.  Would I have gone alone?  I doubt it!
* The fact that I was already in the process of looking to re-locate to Mass from CT and was able to get a job.  What if I didn't get that job and had to keep living in CT?
* What if me relieving myself in an alley outside a B.C. bar during like our 3rd date was enough to turn her off for good and she ended it?  By the way, it wasn't a like official date, we were out drinking with many of her workmates, and I thought it showed how comfortable with her I was.  Whoops!

Okay, that might not be the best one to end on.  But that shows just a few of the "what ifs" along the road of our relationship.  I think the biggest one is "what if I was never able to find her?"  I could not stop thinking of her the rest of the night after we met.  I even told one friend on the trip that I would marry that girl.  Of course that was a strong statement to make considering I didn't even have her digits.  But god love the internet for helping me find her number.  And despite being called a stalker by a good friend, I had the courage to call her, and she called back.  And I will never forget walking into the crowd at the brewfest in Sturbridge, and hearing Barry say "hey..there she is"

And the rest is history.  But take away any one of the what ifs listed above, and I might not be writing this post.  Weird.

Do you have a particular WHAT IF that comes to mind?  Please share.

Comments

[Jody]

What IF you guys didn't meet; you would not have gotten married in Vegas, I would not have won $1,600 in Keno, (Thanks Jeff) and then I would not have met MY "Exotic Dancer" (who I would marry if I had her digits). Thank-you Crazy Horse II, Keno, Las Vegas, the Brew fest at Sturbridge, Heather Graham (just because) and the bachelor and bachelorette parties; for starting this whole life time of chances off in a tangent.

Wonder if I could find that dancer, who took her clothes off, in October of 2003, at the Crazy Horse II, in Las Vegas? If you can do it I can! I am calling off work tonight, and I need to find my new wife! Hopefully she hasn’t upgraded her talents to the Bunny Ranch? I’ll start there! ;+)

[blaugra]

WHAT IF Kristin hadn't moved from the windy city to live in New England, and what if she didn't listen to her family when they recommended she work @ the business school... you guys would have met up anyway!

Sometimes I "what if" too, thinking that if I had gone to a different college I never would have met Dave. But we had applied to all the same colleges, so we probably would have ended up meeting anyway. When I can't fathom the universe, I chalk it all up to fate !