Archive through December 31, 2002
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TV ClubHouse: Archives: 2003 January: Can you pick one minute or action in the past - that if done differently would impact your entire life?: Archive through December 31, 2002

Ginger1218

Monday, December 30, 2002 - 12:29 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
When I was 13 years old I made a spur of the moment decision to get off the subway in Greenwich Village with my friends instead of going to Radio City Music Hall to see a movie. That totally took me on a different path in life. It was 1966 and Rock and Folk Music and Hippies were totally fascinating. I became addicted to the Village. Fell in love with a Coffee House called the Cafe Wha? I was there all the time. I worked there when I was 15 years old. I only dated musicians. I lost all interest in going to college. I realize that according to fate, this is what my life was supposed to be, but I wonder, if I did not get off that train ...

Goddessatlaw

Monday, December 30, 2002 - 12:42 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
WHAT???? YOU GOT TO SEE JIMI HENDRIX LIVE BEFORE HE HIT IT BIG?

Ginger1218

Monday, December 30, 2002 - 12:48 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Yes I did. He was with a group called Jimmy James and the Blue Flames and he played at the Cafe Wha? and then he went to England and made it big as Jimi Hendrix. After that he used to walk on MacDougal Street in the Village stoned out of his mind, and get busted every Sunday LOL. He was an intense guitar player.

I also used to sit on the stoop across the street and sing with John Sebastian (loving spoonful). For a while Ritchie Havens was my boss (he owned the Cafe Wha for a while.

It was an incredible time.

Max

Monday, December 30, 2002 - 12:56 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Gosh, Ginger, I wish I'd have gotten off the subway there! LOL (Actually, I've never even been on the NY Subway!)

My life would have been vastly different at several points along the path.

First, if my birth mother had not brought me into the US and left me at a friend's home. Next if I hadn't gotten sick and the family doctor hadn't called in county services 'cause he knew this couple hadn't had a baby. Third, if my family hadn't been taking care of the county children's home and my brother and sister had lost the "family vote" to adopt me (they lobbied on my behalf). Of course, those were all decisions that others made to affect my life.

Once we get to MY decisions.... If I had said "yes" when an older boyfriend had asked me to marry him (I was 18 at the time and he was 24). If I hadn't followed a boyfriend years later to the SF Bay Area (he was in the Navy stationed in Alameda). If I had finished college instead of following him. If, still years later, I had said "no" to another marriage proposal.

If, if, if...

I prefer to look back and reflect on what I gained from each decision instead of what might have been. :) When I do that, I wouldn't change a thing.

Car54

Monday, December 30, 2002 - 12:58 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Can I pick about 15 of those moments?

Ginger1218

Monday, December 30, 2002 - 01:04 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
What was weird, was that I was going on a totally different path in my life, I was a real studious kid, on the straight and narrow path. And in the blink of an eye made a decision that totally turned my life upside down, never to go back again. And it was my decision, not something that was somebody else's doing.

Goddessatlaw

Monday, December 30, 2002 - 01:07 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I am totally dumbstruck and speechless with envy. I'm going to have to cross-examine you later on this, when I've regained control of my faculties. I'll have to round up Oregonfire on this - she's a Hendrix fan, too.

Zachsmom

Monday, December 30, 2002 - 01:07 pm EditMoveDeleteIP

Quote:

prefer to look back and reflect on what I gained from each decision instead of what might have been.:) When I do that, I wouldn't change a thing.




I agree with you Max!!

Resortgirl

Monday, December 30, 2002 - 01:54 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I suppose the ONE thing that would have TOTALLY changed every aspect of my life is, IF my birth mom had decided to keep me. I woudn't have had some of the privileges I had in life, but may have had more love.... who knows?

Heyltslori

Monday, December 30, 2002 - 02:07 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
When I was 26 I married a man I wasn't truly in love with because he was the first man who had ever said he loved me and I thought it might be my only shot.

Thus began that period in my life that I like to refer to as "What the he!! was I thinking???" :)

Twinkie

Monday, December 30, 2002 - 02:10 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
My life would have been totally different if I hadn't gotten pregnant right out of high school. I had a 4 year music scholarship to Vanderbilt that I really blew. But I got a wonderful daughter instead. But my life would have been so different. I would have traveled the world as a concert pianist.

Hermione69

Monday, December 30, 2002 - 02:12 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I would say, "NO!" to my ex-husband when he asked me to marry him. Marrying him started a downward spiral in my life that I am still trying to recover from even though we have been divorced now for 7 years. He was very abusive and controlling. I have not been in a relationship in over 3 years because I have so much residual fear and baggage from that time of my life.

I have to be careful not to dwell too much on this because I truly feel like I wasted over a decade of my life because of him. It is something I still have not been able to make peace with.

Heyltslori

Monday, December 30, 2002 - 02:13 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
{{{{{Hermione69}}}}} I hear ya sister. I feel that way too.

Hermione69

Monday, December 30, 2002 - 02:15 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
{{{{HeyItslori}}}} back at ya! :)

Oregonfire

Monday, December 30, 2002 - 02:25 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Goddess, I'm here, and in total awe of Ginger's Hendrix story. OMG! Axis Bold as Love!

I would change many things about my past, but the most glaring would be the problems I created by being a borderline alcoholic in my 20s. I alienated a lot of people who don't care to ever speak to me again. I believe I'd still have many of them as friends if not for my embarrassing, self-destructive behavior. I've gotten my drinking under control and can now be a "social" drinker, but I keep in mind the bad old days so I don't overindulge.

I'm not sure if I exactly answered the question posed, but this is a great thread topic!

Webkitty

Monday, December 30, 2002 - 02:54 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
<jumps up and down> I saw Jimi Hendrix at a small venue when I was 16, he was awesome!

As far as changing things in my life, could I just rewind and start over? (too many wrong choices to list) Not that I was a bad person, just an idot <kicks self and makes a note to see the therapist>

Lyn

Monday, December 30, 2002 - 03:04 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
In 1984 I was just about done college (journalism thru film) when the industry changed equipment. That meant that I'd have to retake half of my courses in order to graduate. I was so put out I quit.

My family, for some reason, thought it would be a great idea for me to move across the country and take a library art program, so they enrolled me. You have to understand, I have a phobia of libraries. Anytime I go in one, disaster strikes. I've knocked over a bookstand, set off the book alarms many times, jammed a photocopier machine (ended up with 50 copies if a Monet before we thought to pull the plug), had all the periodicals drop from the hanging rack and scatter, tripped into a book cart tipping it over...you name it, I've done it. But I went anyway.

A few months later I went home to Montreal for Christmas. During my visit I kept having a dream - I had to hurry back to Calgary because I was getting engaged, and if I dawdled I'd miss it. (I wasn't even dating anyone at the time). My vacation went by quickly and before I knew it, it was time to leave. Now I didn't say much to my parents about how unhappy I was at college but they must have known because when we were waiting for my return flight, my mom said that if I didn't want to go back, I didn't have to. I thought about it for a second but then the dream popped into my head and I got on the plane.

Two months later I met hubby, three months after that we were engaged. We've been happily married for 18 yrs and it's all thanks to making the right decision that day at the airport. :)

Squaredsc

Monday, December 30, 2002 - 05:08 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
(((Hermione))))

oh, if only d.h., before he was d.h. would have used that condom or if i had taken xtra birth control pills. i got pregnant in college, we got married, i stopped going, had to work full-time, had 2nd d.s. we struggled, still struggle, are in debt, will probably stay in debt. but we have 2 great kids and d.h. only gets on my nerves about 4 days out of 7.

Twiggyish

Monday, December 30, 2002 - 05:17 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I wouldn't change many things in my life. It's not that everything has been great..it's just that many things shaped my life to this point.

Mygetaway

Monday, December 30, 2002 - 05:54 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
A few things I can think of...

I would have treated my Grandmother better as a young adult/teen.

I would have stayed in school for more classes instead of getting out early to go to work and get credits for it. I also would have saved the thousands of dollars I just blew during that time.

My Dad tells me he was willing to pay for college if I had asked, so part of me wishes I could ask him, and see what would have happened.

I definitely wouldn't have dated a few of the whackos I did, if I knew what I knew now..

Ginger1218

Tuesday, December 31, 2002 - 06:40 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Ok, now break it down. Think of one second in your life - not continued actions, and not someone's else's decision, but one tiny speck of a second, making a decision that totally turned your whole life in a different direction. It is hard to pinpoint for a lot of people. Not everybody has that one brief second change. Sometimes I wish I didn't, but then so many wonderful memories would not be here, but I would be a lot more financially successful today. I guess this being the end of another year, I am just sitting and ruminating.

Ginger1218

Tuesday, December 31, 2002 - 06:44 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Oh, and Goddess and Oregon, any time you want to hear wonderful memories of all the musicians I saw and heard at the Cafe Wha? and at Woodstock. (yes, I was there) just ask. you can also email me anytime

Goddessatlaw

Tuesday, December 31, 2002 - 06:50 am EditMoveDeleteIP
I . . . I . . . You . . .

Ginger1218

Tuesday, December 31, 2002 - 06:56 am EditMoveDeleteIP
lol - something wrong???????

Goddessatlaw

Tuesday, December 31, 2002 - 06:57 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Mmmpjejth...