37 Comments
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T. D. Wolf's avatar

The path not taken is called regret.

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Sharron Bassano's avatar

We all live with regrets of some kind, don't we. Any one who tells me "I a have no regrets," probably lies about other things as well.

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Thomas D’Arcy O’Donnell's avatar

exceptional ‘voicing ! 🦎🏴‍☠️

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Sharron Bassano's avatar

Oh, thanks Timber. Every once in a while I keep a voice over. I always try, but most I delete.

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Richard Blaisdell's avatar

Poignant point of reference like an asterisk to see what you missed .

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Sharron Bassano's avatar

Yes, thank you, Richard. Cool metaphor.

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Richard Blaisdell's avatar

If only I had… more time, foot notes. Took the shortest way with Cliff notes summaries . Summer arrived and left. Find I had only briefly begun to learn there is more between the fleeting days. Then read Shakespeare and all was clearly ‘much ado about something’.

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Kate Henry's avatar

Work waits. Life does not. You can live on a dollar a day for a long time if you are smiling and warm inside. Its worth it. ))

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Sharron Bassano's avatar

Ever the pragmatist, Kate. That is what I love about you. Work waits! What a concept.

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Kate Henry's avatar

Dishes wait. Laundry waits. Snow on the sidewalk waits. Volunteer weeds wait.. and grow thick, but who cares when priority takes first place. Whole life has priority over a couple of hours. Total drop of income just has to wait. Start over.

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Sharron Bassano's avatar

You rock!

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James Ron's avatar

Very nice! And really like the voiceover!

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Sharron Bassano's avatar

Thanks, James Ron, I decided to keep this one. I usually make them and toss them out. I would LOVE to hear the voice of James Ron sometime. One of your Swann stories, maybe? Or a poem on nature?

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James Ron's avatar

Hi Sharron. Can I send you a short clip I did for my last post? I did a couple of takes and decided not to do it. Never can get used to my voice. If I do them, I'll just do excerpts.

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Sharron Bassano's avatar

I would love to hear it! If you know how to send it, I would love it! Thanks

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Carol Roe's avatar

Wonderful. I wrote about this as well. Will be reading tomorrow during ours group.

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Sharron Bassano's avatar

I love it when our writing group members all write on the same theme or photo. It gives real insights as to how our minds work! Thanks for your comment Carol.

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Sue Cauhape's avatar

AHA! You've started the "what if" series. Now it's my turn.

We only dated once or twice and already he's taking me home which he shared with his mother. She was so sweet, and she liked me. He was just as sweet and obviously liked me. I liked him as well, but he was so young. And I'm not so sweet.

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Sharron Bassano's avatar

Ah, but, Sue, young men totally WANT to be with a bad girl, you know that... speaking from my own experience , that is...

Great little story.

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Sue Cauhape's avatar

LOL! May our children never find out the truth.

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Sharron Bassano's avatar

Please, God...

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Sue Cauhape's avatar

Then again, maybe they'll regard us with respect and awe ... we'll not the dotty, dowdy old ladies they mistook us to be. teehee

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Sharron Bassano's avatar

Well, yes. We could have a conversation about that... but not in public.

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K.C. Knouse's avatar

These situations happen quite often over a lifetime. In looking back, we assume they are missed opportunities, but many times I expect we actually dodged a bullet.

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Sharron Bassano's avatar

Yes, KC, I expect you are right. What I desperately wanted in 1975 and didn't get, sent my llfe reeling off into a completely other direction - a terrific direction. How different, how limited my life would have been had I made that bad decision.

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Janice Walton's avatar

Would haves, should haves, could haves. The roads we didn't take.

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Sharron Bassano's avatar

I think most of have them. It is human nature to wonder and imagine, don't you think? Thanks Janice

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Janice Walton's avatar

I think so . . .

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Justin Deming's avatar

I can’t help but feel sorry for the guy. What a powerful and poignant story, Sharron!

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Sharron Bassano's avatar

Aw, Justin, I think we all carry a few "what-ifs" around with us. Thanks for commenting! I have my "Story Teller" 50-word all ready to go on Friday!

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Jim Cummings's avatar

Oh, yeah. Seemingly small decisions or just plain indecision can change our trajectory completely. Well, that's what I hear anyway.

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Sharron Bassano's avatar

Well, yes, I can remember a few times when I barely escaped trouble by thinking twice about a decision. I still carry around a few regrets, though. I am guessing most of us do.

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Yael Gelardin's avatar

Sad. My mother used to say that regrets are futile and they clip your wings!

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Sharron Bassano's avatar

They clip your wings! Yes. A perfect metaphor. Thank you, Yael.

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Rebecca Holden's avatar

Ah yes! We regret the things we *don't* do, not the things we do.

I love reading your words, and that they make me think. Heck, I love to think! xxx

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Nathan Slake's avatar

Eep. Many such moments may present themselves in life.

Well captured, Sharron.

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Mark Starlin's avatar

The "what ifs" are the worst. Take chances!

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