Tuesday, January 6, 2009

The Dilemma of the Do Over

Have you ever wished for a "do over," the chance to do something over again, changing how you deal with it so that the outcome would be different?

There's a new time travel series on Canadian television, "Being Erica," which sounds kind of fun. The Canadian Press describes the premise:
Fired from her mediocre job, dumped by her Lavalife boyfriend and berated by her family for her string of failures, Erica traces her woes to mistakes made in her past. She's offered a second chance to get things right when her mysterious new therapist actually sends her back in time to relive the moments she regrets most.

It's a tempting prospect, to be granted a do over and make everything peachy. (Two cliches in one sentence - my special gift to you today!)

It reminds me of the question we used to ask my mom: "If you could go back in time, what would you change?" Bear in mind that this wonderful woman is NOT a science fiction or fantasy fan. Yes, she loves musicals and movies with improbably happy endings. But that's as far from reality as she's comfortable straying. So her eternal answer was: "Nothing. I would not change anything. Because everything happens for a reason."

For years, I'd wondered at that, because there was PLENTY I'd have changed in my life if I could've gone back. Now, as a mother, I'm reluctant to disturb the timeline. What if some alteration prevented their births? Inconceivable!* It's strange how having a child plays with your perceptions of ideas that were once so attractive.

The lengths to which I go to protect my young ones, I swear.

Just so you know, I'm still totally keen on the idea of time traveling. So if you have a method you'd like to share, please do. But I won't be engaging in any do overs, thank you very much.



*Did you notice this clever pun? Did you care?

5 comments:

Ms. B1tch is tired tired tired...(and very hungry said...

Tee hee - Ms. B loves your place. Oh, what would Ms B1tch do over? hmmmm....going to work at fancy club would be a good start ha.ha!

Ms. B is now following you, but not in that stalky kind of way, but in the bloggy kind of way.

tootles!

Anonymous said...
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Fantastic Forrest said...

Oh, my, Ms. B! If you hadn't gone to work at fancy club, you wouldn't have those great stories. No Mystery of the Hard Candy and Pen Man's Motives. No Mr. Talky Blabbypants. :(

Since I am following you, and you are following me, does this mean we are going around in a circle?

Shana said...

The do over is quite the dilemma for a mom. I had a long (12 year) and crappy marriage at the age of 19 which left me with zero self esteem but two cool kids. Would I undo it? Tricky.

stephanie said...

Interestingly, I often think about doing over numerous things in my past but my students (the teenagers!) consistently say they would not change anything, for the very same reason your mom gave.

Have you read The Time Traveler's Wife yet? Fantastic.