Moon Lists sent me a list of writing prompts, one of which struck a chord: "Admit an alternate version of your life you sometimes imagine yourself experiencing." Playing "what if" is something I do, imagining my life if I'd made other decisions, been braver or smarter, or just taken another path from the one(s) I chose. When I graduated from college, I wanted to fly. A sorority sister's father was a VP at Braniff Airlines, and he was ready to hire me. I like to imagine my life as a flight attendant in the years when fashion and globe-trotting were for the taking. My father, whom I loved and respected, was not pleased with my career plan. Later I learned that his disapproval had nothing to do with lifestyle; he was afraid of losing me to a plane crash. I decided to keep my feet on the ground and teach high school English, a choice that might seem boring, but was the catalyst for so many adventures. Being able to write, develop instructional plans, manage a classroom, and grow a thick skin served me well. The years teaching were also years where I felt that was where I should be...until it wasn't. Anyone who pooh-poohs a liberal arts education doesn't know the value of being able to read, analyze, write, and research topics and ideas. Well-rounded people are interesting, and for me, at least, getting a job never proved to be a problem. But it's fun to imagine myself in a Gucci outfit, go-go boots and pillbox hat, striding through the airports of London and Paris. Alas, it was a good choice to forego flying because Braniff went bankrupt, and I would have been out of a job. So it goes....