What if I wasn’t born in this country with all of the modern conveniences as well as the privileges baked into my day-to-day activities called my life?
What if I didn’t have the parents, family and friends that I was so fortunate to have been surrounded by growing up?
What if I had never met the Love of my life when I was 5 years old, then go on to be her schoolmate for the next 12 years of my life, only to become high school sweethearts that developed into a long-distance college relationship testing the bounds of who we were and who we were becoming?
What if I had broken her trust, decided to flee from difficulty or indulge in selfish behavior satisfying the ego through dead-end one-night stands?
What if I had blinked at the moment of facing a long-term commitment to her and the possibility of settling down?
What if I had chosen not to share my most intimate dreams, fears and desires with her?
What if I hadn’t seen her courageously give birth to our four beautiful and healthy children and raise them with love, patience and kindness?
What if we didn’t have our health to see them grow up into fine young adults?
What if we couldn’t laugh at ourselves and our foibles as we grow old and begin to gray?
What if I wasn’t able to celebrate 30 years of marriage to the woman of dreams and look upon our journey with Love, admiration and pride?
I have no idea. But, I dare to think of such a life as I count my blessings each and every day for the one I have.