If We Knew Then What We Know Now...

While I was in TN a couple of weeks ago, I was given a photo of me and my six siblings along with my Mom in the photo.  It was taken in our front yard, and judging from the way we're dressed, it had to have been taken after we got home from church on Easter Sunday. The year?  Probably around 1971. Of course Dad isn't in the photo... he took the photo!  Rare photo it is from our childhood to have Dad in it!

                   In front: Chris and Mary. Middle: Kevin, Scot, Mom, Roberta, Sharon; Larry in back.

Anyway, as I was looking at this photo, it occurred to me that we were all still in school, my brothers all still had hair, me and my sisters all had long hair, and all of us were smiling. We were all care free back then.  No worries other than not failing in a class at school! 

So looking at this photo and another photo taken 30 years later at my parents' 50th Anniversary party in 2001, I wondered... if we knew then what we know now... what would we have changed? 

Dad and Mom in front.  Mary, Chris, Sharon, Scot, Kevin, Roberta and Larry

Now, I can't speak for my siblings, but as for me... I'm not sure I would change much of anything knowing what I know now.  Things happen for a reason.  I haven't had the easiest of roads to follow. Bumps and detours along the way, but I've had Mike there with me for these past 30 years to help me along the way, steer me when I couldn't see the road, and let me go on alone when I needed the space and time. 

I've stumbled; fell; lost parts of me that won't be found again (thank goodness!); and I've climbed up from troubles to find the sweet happiness of knowing I've made it thru them all!  Although the path continues on, the path looks much smoother ahead since I have someone to walk it with me. Someone who will be with me until the end.

As I look at the photo of my parents' 50th Anniversary, I see my parents and siblings... arms around each other, my brothers with much less hair and more forehead, my sisters and I with shorter hair, all of us a bit heavier, and we are all still smiling.  Maybe like me, they wouldn't change much of anything either.