Week 14: Small Desions, Big Consequences

If I could go back to the Fourth of July, 2012, my life would have been substantially different. If I could have went back to that day, I would have gone against against tradition. Usually I make an extreme effort to not go to my father's house for the Fourth. Ever since he got home from the war, fireworks haven't been his thing. Actually I would venture to say that the Fourth was his least favorite holiday. So with tradition, 2012 was no different. After a few "Happy Fourth" texts and a brief conversation over the text message with my father I planned to enjoy the rest of the holiday without further thought of my dad. I went to Damion's house to watch the fireworks, and it was there that I received a heart breaking phone call. My dad fell off his roof while he was cleaning the gutters. If I could have gone back, I would have made a trip out there. Maybe even stayed the night on the third. When he went to go clean, I would have said, "Dad, let the boys clean the gutters. Let's go to Pizza Hut instead." And he would have responded something like, "Pizza Hut sounds good. Maybe I'll get some Canadian bacon on my pizza." Then he never would have fallen, and he wouldn't have died when he did. He would probably still be here. Actually it's the weekend as I write this, so I would probably be with him if that day would have been different.