Tag I'm *it*....

Late last week Cyli tagged me with what I thought was an interesting project. I'd been tagged earlier by Nic and I'd replied on her site as Mothers Day was approaching... This one however was a bit to long to post back into a comment, so I'm posting it here.

You might want to stop by their sites and contribute to the 'tag list', I had fun both in picking these five, as well as in writing them up.

I don't often sit around pondering the would-a, could-a, should-a types of possibilities, as I view them as past/missed opportunities and don't see what good can come of living in the past. I prefer these days to focus my "bb" sized brain on things I can actually do something about, it wasn't always that way, and, at times it's difficult not to slip backwards into old habits. But that as they say is "another story", for another day.

So without further ruminating here's my selection from her list:

If I could be a doctor . . .
I’d want to be the kind of doctor who wasn’t afraid to say “I don’t know”. One who could empathize with his patients, understand they’re often scared and want only to feel better. To remember that reassurance might just be the best medicine I could prescribe, let them know that what ever it took, I would listen, hear them when they describe their symptoms, and look for answers to their situation. Last, remember to always treat each patient individually, and to not rush to diagnosis.

If I could be a psychologist . . .
I’d figure out what it is that compels people to do, what ever it is that they do. I find the actions of some to be so beyond my reality set that I’m forever fascinated with what could possibly make them do “that”. Recently the guy (Hobbs I think) who killed his young daughter and her little friend... what could possibly compel someone to do that? If I were a psychologist I'd make it my life's work to find out, and "fix it".

If I could be a professor . . .
and pay the bills, I would be. It was one of the few occupations I’ve ever had, besides software development that I really enjoyed. It often provided a sort of immediate 'feedback' most other professions don't offer. Some of the folks who've had the largest impact on my life were educators; it's a calling for sure. Unfortunately I found that if I wanted a reliable car to drive, and a roof over my head, without a doctorate, of at the very least a Masters, as a teacher that wasn’t going to happen. I had neither the time, nor the funds, at the time to continue schooling… the rest as they say, is history.

If I could be a writer . . .
Professionally, and get paid? I can’t imagine anything I’d enjoy more at this point in my life. I’d write, books, articles, poems, stories… everything… that I could get published. I love to write, the most rewarding thing to me, is to know I’ve somehow touched another person with my writing. To have made them think, remember, or transported them, if only for a moment, to a fantasy world where their troubles slip away. Get paid to do that... I'd be quoting Jerry Garcia and saying something like... "The most amazing thing to me, is that, *I*, get *paid*, for doing this!"

If I could be a gardener . . .
I’d be one like my Dad was… he was a master of ‘square foot’ gardening, getting incredible yields from a little 10x10’ plot in the back yard. He grew tomatoes, onions, beans and peas… all high yield plantings that prospered from spring through the first killing frost. Or one like my wife, who turns the hard clay soils here into flower beds that bloom from early spring and continue into early winter, each day is like Christmas wondering what new plant will be blooming when I get home.

So there ya have it... my rare foray into 'coulda' land. I hope you enjoyed reading it half as much as I enjoyed writing it.