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--submitted by David 3/24/05
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David said - "My first thought would be to go back to the Garden of Eden and stop Eve from eating that fruit. However, if she hadn't messed up I'm sure Adam or one of their millions of descendents would have done so. That's the problem with free will. Another reason I wouldn't do it is that I am not as comfortable with my body image as I used to be and I don't think I would be okay with being naked all the time. My second thought was to go back and get rid of Hitler before he had the chance to take power or to take out Oswald before he got to the book depository or attempt to deter the events of September 11th. However, these are very obvious and would probably be taken care of by the many others who would have the chance to change the past by answering this question. My third thought was to go back to the 1st century and try to sway the crowd to release Christ instead of Barabbas. But if that would happen, none of us would have any hope for a future. My fourth thought was that any change in the past timeline, no matter how small and seemingly insignificant, may have repercussions that would totally change the present and be detrimental to my very existence. For instance, suppose I go back to Ireland in the 1840s and show them the modern techniques of potato farming. The Condons would have never left Cork, the McGunnigles would never have left Donegal, Mom and Dad would never have met in NY, and BAM - none of us were ever born. However, if I was never born how is it that I ever went back to stop the Potato Famine? Paradox! So my answer would have to be to go back to this afternoon and talk myself out of eating that questionable meat from the fridge that has been giving me indigestion all day." |
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| Susan said - "We would not have moved to New Jersey. I wonder how that would have affected all of our lives." |
Katie said - "I would not like to change a big historical event, because I think that would be too risky to the overall well-being of the world; I would not like to change anything huge in my past, because I fear that I might have become a different person or that things would not be as good as they are now if I changed anything; however, there is one thing I would do if I could go back in time. For some reason I have had three or four dreams that I went back in time and visited Marcus Ray (a guy who was in my grade in Atlanta) before he committed suicide. In my dreams I am always trying to make hime feel better about his life. I wish it was actually possible to go back and make enough impact on his life to change what happened." |
Caryn said - "I notice not too many have responded to this question. The reason I didn't at first is that it is a very intense question that requires much deep thought- something I don't have time for right now. I can however answer the question more superficially. If I could change something in time it would be my 8th grade final choral concert. For some reason I was entrusted with playing the piano accompaniment for "Corner of the Sky"- the final song of the evening. At that point I didn't read music well, so I memorized the song. We had never done an entire run through until the actual performance. Why not? Good question. The only answer I can give is that the new music teacher- Mr. Detwiler, was a moron. They even employed a drummer from the high school to join us. And after the second verse I completely blanked out. I stopped playing, the choral voices gradually stopped their singing-the drums stopped- and all eyes were on me. I banged a final dissonant chord on the piano in anguish. The concert was over. Everyone was so dumbfounded no one said a word. I just cried and tried to forget. Obviously I never have. If I could go back in time I would never have agreed to such an undertaking. And I really don't think that anything significant would be affected by altaring time in this case. Just maybe the performance anxiety that riddles me now would be diminished." |
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Jim, Jr. said - "I didn't answer the question initially, because David convinced me right off the bat that none of us should try to change history, because we have no idea what other things might change as a result. I agree with him. I guess we all have our little things we'd like to go back to and do differently if we had the chance. I actually liked New Jersey - so that wouldn't be something I'd wish to change. I must have missed Caryn's concert - that would be a good thing to change. I've always thought it cruel that someone with such a beautiful voice could feel so inhibited on stage - maybe that would have been different. I wish I could go back to Thanksgiving in Atlanta and take back my "Who's Chuck?" comment. One time in New Jersey we all went to the Hanson's pool - I slipped off what I thought were my shorts so I could get down to my bathing suit - unfortunately all I had on to begin with was the bathing suit - wish I could change that. Another time back in East Hampton I went into the bathroom to pee - finished up and discovered Caryn and Judy were hiding in the cabinet - another one I'd like to change. Back in high school I made a very hurtful comment to my good friend Scott Mateo - in an attempt at humor - I really wish I could take that one back. Part of me wishes we could go back to 1984, to know what we know now about Boston and "the movement", but then again I wouldn't have met and married Tina and therefore wouldn't have Joey, Shannon and Molly. Caryn probably wouldn't have met Brian and down the line. There's always good that arises from bad experiences. I actually got over my extreme modesty as a child - I don't mind getting naked now and again, so maybe these childhood experiences "freed me" a bit. I definitely would do things differently if I had a chance to go back - but I don't have a strong desire to change anything in my past. I would certainly take the opportunity to stop Hitler, Lee Harvey Oswald, and James Earl Ray if I had the chance. I'm happy where I am right now - and I'm aware that I wouldn't be who I am and where I am without all the good and all the bad experiences I've had." |
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