Alternate History by Britt Michaels

The Internet is a fun place to meander, often finding interesting stuff. This is besides 'Stumbling Upon'. Last week I was looking for something in history, and found 'Alternate History' website. It was on our recent presidents, administrations, and projections of wars and such, if certain things had happened. Examples: Different presidents elected in 1952, with the effect on the Korean War ("Police Action"); different takes on 'Rip Van Winkle'; Orson Wells; the movie "Final Countdown".

I read this for over an hour. Something like a "What If" story.

The next day I thought more on this matter. On my life. I went through my life, from preschool to the present. What if my parents had chosen house A instead of house B when we moved (which we often did). My new school would have been different, as would my new friends. Different teachers and teaching techniques. I may have learned more -- or less, than I have.

When I enlisted in the service (conscription was the 'in' thing then), if I entered a few days or weeks apart from my actual entry date, my basic training TI would've been different, my eventual field and base tranfers would change. I went to school for bomber navigation. Got cross-trained in (nuclear) weapons maintenances. Tried to get shipped over- seas for two years. No luck. All four years in the U.S.

When my stretch was over (1963), I went to school and worked at a franchised restaurant. I quit school, working full time as a cook. What if I had done the opposite? If I stayed as breakfast cook, the next level was management. I liked the job (best job I ever enjoyed. I came in on my day off to see if anyone called in sick.) Lousy pay as a cook, though. Should have stayed for the next level as day manager. Didn't. Quit and went to California to work for mining company. Quit that after a few months, and went back home.

I got a couple of, what ended up as, dead end jobs. In 1967, I 'kinda sold' water softeners. While doing the Home Show, I met an artistic glassblower. He wanted to take on an apprentice. I accepted. I worked with him for a couple of years.

Then one of life's pivotal events happened that changed my life. My father died in 1969. I didn't fault his lifestyle, but did not want to go out without visiting or living in another country. I needed a drastic change in life. I applied for residency in Australia. I got my visa, and moved to Sydney. I worked at the glass for a while. It didn't work out. I had to re-evaluate the situation. I hired on as a cook. Nice to have a trade that can be used anywhere in the world. Six months later, met a shop owner in a mall that wanted my glass. So, back in the glass business. Came back to the Colonies for a year and a half. Back to Aussie and New Zealand for 8 years. Stayed in glass this time.

Came back in '81. No more traveling. I did it though! If I hadn't, I'd be very disappointed with myself right now.

This is a synopsis of my life. In my mind, I have expanded each of these segments as I typed this story out. I've had other jobs; in the neighborhood of 20, or more, besides those already listed. Some were very short-lived. Doing address curb markings for a summer, assembling toy paddles for six months. Other stuff like that. Not very exciting — but different. To me, it beats working in a factory for 45 years. I knew men who said that they had to struggle to get up and go to work for the last five to ten years before their retirement. "Who'd hire me at 55 or 60?, if I quit now. Plus, I'd lose my pension." My mother tried to get me to work at Allis-Chalmers for the "security". They completely shut down in Milwaukee in the late '80s, when I was in my late 40s. Great security!

I didn't do everything proper with my life. I got a lot of it wrong. I got some of it right. My biggest stumbling block is procrastination. Almost everyone does it. I make an art form of it. There's a song by Willie Nelson, "Nothing I Can Do About It Now", I have on one of his CDs. If you don't have the song, get it. It's a nice snappy tune. It's helped me get over my bigger bloopers in my life.

Last couple of years I've been on a new kick. Writing. Not the 'Great American Novel'. Don't believe there is such a thing. Two short stories. I want to get one of them on the market in '10. Maybe both — that bugaboo, procrastination, again will play a role. Been checking options on the 'Net.

Play this 'What if' on your own life. See where it leads you. You too, will say to yourself: "I wonder how my life would be different today, had I ....."

© 2009 by James M. Britvich All Rights Reserved