Saturday, August 5, 2006

Sunday Scribbblings-Who Might I Have Been?

A gypsy, a poet, a baker, a king? Might I have been any of these things? A fascinating question, and similar to one that was posed in my Task List for last week's The Artist's Way assigment. "If you had five other lives to lead, what would you do in each of them?" we were asked to consider. Julia Cameron, the author of The Artist's Way, declared that she would be a pilot, a cowhand, a physicist, a psychic, a monk. She suggested that we "not think too carefully, just write down whatever came to mind." So, off the top of my head, I wrote down dancer, teacher, doctor, singer, race car driver. The only one that really surprised me on the that list was doctor - I simply can't stand the sight of any blood!

Truthfully, I rarely consider this kind of question. I don't know if that means I'm not creative, or unmotivated, or just plain unimaginative. Maybe it's a sign that basically I'm pretty satisfied with what I turned out to be - wife, mother, musician, writer, friend. My existence seemed pre-destined. My parents were grade school sweethearts, I was born smack in the middle of the baby boom generation, and followed society's well laid plan for a girl child raised in the 60's.

The pivotal instance that set my life in motion has to be the day my friend Lisa arranged for me to study piano with her teacher. Only 13 years old at the time, during my first year of study, my lesson was scheduled right before my teacher's star pupil, a 15 year old boy. Occasionally, I would stay behind long enough to hear him play the first few bars of the Chopin Military Polonaise or Brahms Requiem. I was totally enthralled with a teenage boy who could play music with such love and passion. Within the next few years, we began playing duets together. By the time I was 17 and he was 19, we were quite seriously in love. And when I was 20 - you guessed it. Reader, I married him.

So of course my life would have been completely different had I not gone to that first piano lesson. Not only would I not have my husband, I wouldn't have my son. Nor would I have music, at least not in the capacity I now do. I would likely have stuck to writing, which was my first passion in life, finished my four years of college, and maybe become a journalist, or even a full fledged hippie (I was a little radical back in the early 70's!).

But rather than feel excited or tempted by "what might have been," I feel more than a little frightened. How perilous is life, and how often we make decisions that lead us to life altering events without even knowing it. So - who might I have been? I don't know, but I'm awfully glad I ended up being just who I am.

17 Comments:

Blogger Jennifer S. said...

Oh, I love your sweet story :)

8/05/2006  
Blogger Bella said...

Becca, your story is sweet and full of love. Your path brought you to where you are today, and if you are content, that is what matters. You are so right.

I'm still tossing ideas around my head for this prompt.

deelovelee.typepad.com/mamammuses/

8/05/2006  
Blogger Tammy Brierly said...

I'm so glad you turned out to be you! I'm a romantic and your story made me go awwww :) Becca a hippie...giggles :)

8/05/2006  
Blogger paris parfait said...

Such a romantic story! Love it!

8/05/2006  
Blogger LoraLoo said...

What a great story! How wonderful that things turned out just as they did...

8/05/2006  
Blogger gma said...

Hi Becca,
A little synchronicity here...
I wrote SS about the Artist Way tasks as well. Love that book....and your writing.

8/06/2006  
Blogger Star said...

How wonderful that you met your special someone so early. You are lucky to be able to spend so many happy years together.

I was so surprised when you listed the alternate courses for your life and then said you were surprised about choosing to be a doctor. As I was reading your list, I was surprised about the race car driver!

8/06/2006  
Blogger jzr said...

You are a very lucky person not to have to wonder about what if?? How satisfying life is when we are happy where we are and with whom we are!!

8/06/2006  
Blogger sundaycynce said...

I loved your story, Becca. It is delightful and satisfying to feel like you have ended up just where you want to be---liking who you are and where your decisions have led. Such a sweet story. I love music too, tho I've never been able to let it play as big a part in my life as it obviously has in yours. I have always wished I could really play the piano!!

8/07/2006  
Blogger Deirdre said...

I love when life hands us the opportunity to see how things all fall into place. It's so good to read how satisfied with your life you are - happiness is a great outcome.

8/07/2006  
Blogger jennifer black said...

Lovely post. Lovely writing, sweet, romantic, kind-hearted thoughts. I enjoyed reading this.

jb

8/07/2006  
Blogger jennifer black said...

Lovely post. Lovely writing, sweet, romantic, kind-hearted thoughts. I enjoyed reading this.

jb

8/07/2006  
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