Literary Contest 2023

LIFE'S FORK IN THE ROAD

Rosetta

There is a point in time in a person's life where you have to choose a path which could hinder your life or make it better. A fork in the road is the two paths you are faced with in making a choice to determine whether or not it can make your life happier or sadder.

I had made some good and poor choices in my life. At the time I did not know if I made the correct ones. As a child my thoughts of how my life would go did not happen.

I lwas raised by two wonderful Italian parents. They loved me and would do anything for me. In turn I felt the very same towards them. This brings me to my first fork in the road. l was 16 years old. I had no interest in boys. I loved the outdoors and sports. My father's work colleague told my father their employer had a son who would be interested in meeting me. He was a wealthy 21 year old young man. The meeting took place at my parent's home. I was very nervous to meet him. I had never had a boyfriend. He arrived in a brand new motorcycle. I knew from the moment I met him I was not interested in pursuing this arrangement. l felt trapped. I did not want to disappoint my parents. My mother loved the idea of me to begin dating this young man. She felt I could end up marrying this rich young man and have many grand children for her to enjoy with no financial worries. The dating began. My father's instructions were he could not take me out on the motorcycle and not in his private plane. Although, it was ok for him to drive me in his brand new Jaguar to the local small airport to see his private plane but not to fly in it. The young respectful young man agreed with my father's request and promised he would follow his instructions. I was nervous throughout the whole trip to the airport and to the return trip home. This young man was interested in taking me out to dinner. He said he would call me Tuesday night for my answer. Tuesday night arrived. The call came after our family dinner. My mother was so excited. Her dreams for me or rather her dreams would come to life. My stomach was turned upside down. I did not want to disappoint her. I knew my mother hoped my decision would be to go out on this dinner date with this young wealthy man. Which made my decision to answer yes or no was overwhelming. He called and asked me if I would go out with him to dinner. I decided to say no. As soon as I hung up the phone I ran to the bathroom and lost my dinner in the toilet. My mother, father and brother all ran in the bathroom to see why I was sick and crying. They had no idea how I felt. I toid my parents I was so sorry I disappointed them by saying no to the young man’s request. My father told me to stop crying. I should never feel I could ever disappoint them. Most importantly if it ever meant my unhappiness. Money is not everything. Happiness is. I was back to my old self. Next day I was outside playing sports and enjoying the outdoors with my girlfriends. My choice was the correct path in my FORK IN THE ROAD.

After I completed high school I did not know what I was to do next. My feeling was to not reside in my small town. My brother was living in the big city. He enjoyed it. He suggested I try getting an office job in the big city. There was more opportunity there than in my small town. I was intrigued. I choose to go to the big city and look for a job. One of my parents approved of me leaving and the other did not. But I choose to leave and they accepted it. I applied to two jobs. The first employer paid very well and the other not so much. I was excited to be hired by the first employer. There was another applicant who applied for the same secretarial position. She had thirty five years experience. They chose to hire the other applicant because of her experience. The second company I applied to had hired me. Although it was a less paying job I was thrilled to have an office job. My employer and the staff were wonderful and very good to me. Six months into my job the first employer called me and was hoping I would go to work for them. The other applicant did not work out. They were prepared to pay me 30% more than what I was now receiving. I thought long on that proposal and decided to ask my father for his opinion. He asked me if I was happy with where I was now employed. I answered I was very happy even though I was making less money than the first employer’s offer. My father said money is not everything but happiness is. lf where I was employed made happy he felt I should stay. It was totally my decision. I agreed with my dad and stayed. I later found out the first employer's company went out of business and I would have been out of a job again. I worked 42 years in the same industry and retired saying I had an accomplishing career with a company who appreciated me and my work. My choice was the correct path in my FORK IN THE ROAD.

As a child I was always dreaming of having children. In your life them are times you are thrown some curve balls. I suspected it was possible that I could not have children. I did try for a year to conceive with my first marriage. But to no avail. In my early thirty’s I was living in a beautiful two bedroom apartment. After 3 years of dating a wonderful man, we split up. I wanted children and he did not. So we went our separate ways even though we were very much in love. I began wondering if I made the correct choice breaking up with that wonderful man. Wondering does it matter if I cannot have children? Does it matter if I marry a man who wants children and I cannot give him children? Would he leave me? Would my wonderful man be with another women? All these unanswered questions burdened me to no end. Why is it women have to deal with such issues? One year after being separated from my wonderful man he asked me out for dinner to celebrate my birthday. I said yes. We enjoyed a wonderful evening. At dinner he asked me would I consider going back with him. I knew then and there. My answer was yes. We dated for eight months when we decided to move in together. We chose to move into my beautiful apartment. I decided to approach the subject of having children. He had the same answer. He did not want children. We then made an agreement. I would no longer be on the birth control pill when I turned thirty five. If I got pregnant, I would keep the child and he would then have to make a decision whether he would stay or leave. He could not make that decision ubtil it happened. Well it did not happen. I did not ever become pregnant. As time went by it was clear to me, I made the correct decision to be wit hthis wonderful man. Forty one years later we are as happy as two love birds. Having no children was not in the cards for me but this wonderful man was. My choice was the correct path in my FORK IN THE ROAD.

Everone in life will face their own forks in the road. Each individual will have to choose their own paths down their FORKS IN THE ROAD.

The choices I made were the most Important choices toward making my life complete

TOOTHBRUSH and ONE CHANGE OF UNDERWEAR

"Everything else stays on the dock," our pilot ordered. It was a still morning, the lake was mirror glass, there was just no lift to take our plane up. That meant taxiing back to the dock to pull those two items out (I was also permitted a small notebook) and shove everything else into the lockers available for such occasions. For me that meant no camera, no tape recorder. And well, sleep in your clothes, LIVE in the same clothes for the next two days. Or three, perhaps… life can be unpredictable in this bush country a few hours flying north of Lake Superior.

Again I'd flown to Dryden where I was picked up by Clair and Clara Schnupp and flown further north to their home base for Northern Youth Programs, sponsored by the Mennonite Brethren Churches. These two educators from St.Catherines, Ontario had built a large comfortable log home including guest suite where I stayed, and with special accommodations for their five daughters including five sinks in the girls’ long washroom. At bedtime Clair told us that take-off needed to be 6 a.m. to get to the first camp they were scheduled to visit.

As a mother of four I wondered how this could possibly happen. But by 6 a.m. we were on the dock, the girls having all showered and braided their long hair. (Sneaky me: I checked the sinks and nary a hair in sight!) Clara had prepared a full northern breakfast; Clair led unhurried Devotions around the table, the dishes were washed and put away, and we were all on the dock, readying the two planes we would need to fly the eight of us to the Children’s Camp about an hour farther in this northern wilderness.

I smliled to scee the two oldest girls in their pretty long dresses and Mennonite caps, down on thee floats of the second plane, checking the gas levels. The oldest 17—year—old would be at the controls of the second plane, she'd logged quite a few miles already. (Where girls in the south look forward to getting their driver's license, these girls would all get their pilot’s license ASAP; mother Clara had hers.)

All this comes back so clearly as I'm listening to a CD of Clara and the five girls singing favorite old songs like "Just a Closer Walk". We were singing in both planes as we flew low over the lakes and woods; none of this area was mapped so we kept fairly close together. Not quite wing-tippin, but close. In the the other plane I could see the young pilot, with her Mennonite cap jauntily perched, blowing bubble-gum bubbles! Incongruous, Happy! Go-lucky! I loved it.

But then the clouds moved in and we were totally overcast. "Daddy, how are we going to find our way down?" she asked. We'll have to find a hole," Clair replied. And the girls began to sing a little Sunday School song: "I know the Lord will make a way for me."

“Daddy, there's a hole!"

"Take it!" And down she zipped. And the clouds closed over her. We kept on singing. And another hole opened up. Down through the clouds we went, there was a crystal blue lake below us. The girls’ plane was just ahead. And we were right over the camp! Thank you, Lordl" this city girl breathed. For them it was just another day…

The two camps we visited were excellent — and I was observing through experienced eyes having written articles for both Canadian and American Reader’s Digest on HOW TO CHOOSE A GOOD SUMMER CAMP. What a fine looking group these young people were, well built, good complexions and hair — every one a poster picture of good health — and fresh Mennonite food!

Before starting out on the long trip south they needed to top up the gas in both planes. To do this, we headed for one of the caches of fuel that are kept at set places throughout the region. But when we taxied in to fill up—NO GAS. Someone had emptied it all. What to do now?

Nothing seemed to faze these competent, serene people. Clair checked the levels in each plane and figured if they evened out the gas, there should be just enough to get both planes home. So again our pretty long-skirted teenagers were down rm the siphoning out and pouring in gas.

Both planes took off and soared over the treetops, singing our way homeward. Both arrived safely. I was breathing a sigh of relief; but for the Schnupps, getting trapped above the clouds, or running out of gas was all part of the challenge of northern bush flying. Just another day…