What I could have been.

I read with some interest the story of the old couple who had been childhood lovers but for one reason or another had lost touch with each other. Now years later they had ended up in the same retirement home, they had in fact been living close to each other without knowing so, and they had fallen in love all over again and were getting married.

A businessman who had seen the story on television had donated four thousand pounds to send them on a world cruise. They did not know this as they returned to the retirement home after the wedding saying they would take each day as it comes and rejoice in it.

A case of what might have been in some sense had come to be if somewhat late.

A man who had real difficulties at school had left with no qualifications and could not read or write. He was finding it very difficult to find employment. It was pointed out to him that the council were looking to employ somebody as a toilet attendant in the centre of town. This was not what he had hoped for but it was a job and he certainly did not like living on employment benefit. He got his friend to help him fill out the application made his mark and sent it off.

He was given an interview in which he came across well and was offered the job. Before being employed he had to read the terms and conditions of employment and sign a contract. On seeing he was unable to do this the offer was withdrawn.

Feeling let down and disconsolate he began to walk home. As he passed a grocer shop he noticed a large bundle of wooden crates lying ready for uplift by the bin collectors. he went into the store and asked the manager if he could have them? Given permission, he carted them home making a few trips. Once he had them all home he broke them up and bundled them into firewood. He sold these at a very reasonable price.

He discovered that there were many stores threw out the same kind of waste and quickly set up collecting and selling on.

After some time doing this he purchased a van and was able to gather from far and wide other peoples waste wood. The business grew and grew to employ many people. Having managed to do so well he was passing a garage one day and saw a beautiful Rolls Royce car for sale. He entered and agreed to make a purchase.

The car salesman asked how he would like to pay? Was it to be bankers order or cheque? He said he would pay in cash and he and the salesman drove to him home. On getting in he went under the mattress to get the cash. The salesman was flabbergasted. "Should that not be in the bank?"

he was told that the man did not have a bank account because he could not read or write. The salesman stood openmouthed. "You cannot read or write, just imagine what you might have been had you been able to?"

"That is easy to tell you," said the man, "I would have been a toilet attendant."

We can never know what awaits us around the corner but if we grasp the moment and make the best of whatever it is it will on most occasions turn out for the best.

have a marvellous day.