Wednesday, March 13, 2013

THE WORMHOLE

For this week's Celebrate the Small Things Blogfest Kathy says: Two memorial services occupy my time this week, but I'm celebrating two lives and I'm grateful that these two people were a part of my life.


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In honor of Albert Einstein's birthday, tell the world in 100 words more or less, what you would do if you had a two-way ticket to traverse a wormhole. 

by Kathy Cannon Wiechman

My husband’s mother died when he was an infant, leaving seven children without their mother. Their father moved them from New Mexico to Cincinnati, where family could help raise them.

Such a tragedy! But if they hadn’t moved, Jim and I would have never met and had our own children. Altering the past changes bad and good.

Through that wormhole, I’d be tempted to eliminate Booth, Hitler, or Bin Laden or save Anne Frank or Princess Diana. But I’d settle for a visit with Helen Wiechman to tell her about her son who became a devoted husband and father.

Helen Wiechman. Taken too young.


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52 comments:

  1. Natalie AguirreMarch 13, 2013 at 4:01 AM

    That's an awesome choice. Personally, I don't want to go back in the past because for much of it there was no women's rights. I'd probably go to the future.

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    1. Kathy Cannon WiechmanMarch 13, 2013 at 10:20 AM

      The past is a nice place to visit, but living in the present is probably the best choice for me. Thanks for commenting, Natalie.

      Delete
  2. Ann FinkelsteinMarch 13, 2013 at 4:26 AM

    As someone who is writing a time-travel novel, I've learned my lesson. I'll stick right here in the present. Still, I admire your choice, Kathy.

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    1. Kathy Cannon WiechmanMarch 13, 2013 at 10:22 AM

      I love time-travel novels! Send me an email & tell me more about it.

      Delete
  3. kjmckendryMarch 13, 2013 at 7:41 AM

    That's a wonderful way to spend your trip.

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    1. Kathy Cannon WiechmanMarch 13, 2013 at 10:25 AM

      Thanks. From what I've heard about Helen, I know she was a wonderful woman. She died before I was born, & I'm sorry I never got to meet her.

      Delete
  4. D.G. HudsonMarch 13, 2013 at 10:30 AM

    I don't know about eliminating past killers, someone always pops up to replace them and they could be worse.

    Meeting a relative from the past could be enlightening, or very sad. I never got to meet hubs grandmother who was an amazing woman as well.

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    1. Kathy Cannon WiechmanMarch 13, 2013 at 1:11 PM

      It's one of those "What if..." kinds of moments. As long as the wormhole doesn't really exist, we can choose to think on it positively until someone proves us wrong.

      Delete
  5. Luanne G. SmithMarch 13, 2013 at 10:37 AM

    Oh, that's tragic. Seven kids! But what a neat gesture to want to go back and tell her about her son and what a great man he turned out to be. Awesome.

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    1. Kathy Cannon WiechmanMarch 13, 2013 at 1:13 PM

      Thanks, L.G. When I hear people complain about their mothers-in-law, I think about the one I never had.

      Delete
  6. SanderellaMarch 13, 2013 at 11:28 AM

    What a beautiful Mom she was! I loved your story.

    sandysanderellasmusings

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    1. Kathy Cannon WiechmanMarch 13, 2013 at 1:15 PM

      Thanks, Sandy. She was a beautiful lady & her husband always spoke of her as though she'd died just yesterday.

      Delete
  7. Alex VillasanteMarch 13, 2013 at 11:51 AM

    what a lovely thing to want to do - let a mother know how wonderfully her son turned out. I'm with you (I've seen plenty of Quantum Leap!) Going back to change the past never works!

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    1. Kathy Cannon WiechmanMarch 13, 2013 at 1:17 PM

      So true. For better or for worse, it's past. We have to move on. Thanks for your comment, Alex.

      Delete
  8. ChanceletMarch 13, 2013 at 11:57 AM

    Sometimes allowing the smallest moments to happen can cause such wonderful blessings in someone's life.

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    1. Kathy Cannon WiechmanMarch 13, 2013 at 1:18 PM

      You're right, Nancy. Thanks for commenting, & may your small moments bless you always.

      Delete
  9. UnknownMarch 13, 2013 at 2:18 PM

    lovely thought!

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  10. Alex J. CavanaughMarch 13, 2013 at 3:46 PM

    That's a really sweet choice.

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    1. Kathy Cannon WiechmanMarch 13, 2013 at 9:40 PM

      Thanks, Alex. I'm a softie, who wears her heart on her sleeve.

      Delete
  11. AnonymousMarch 13, 2013 at 4:35 PM

    This would be a very noble act. A very touching post. Thanks so much for participating!



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    1. Kathy Cannon WiechmanMarch 13, 2013 at 9:42 PM

      Thanks, Stephen. It was an interesting thing to think about & tough to not want to change something from the past.

      Delete
  12. AnonymousMarch 13, 2013 at 5:01 PM

    That's truly beautiful!

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    1. Kathy Cannon WiechmanMarch 13, 2013 at 9:44 PM

      Thanks, M.J. I appreciate your comment, & I hope you'll visit again soon.

      Delete
  13. AnonymousMarch 13, 2013 at 7:17 PM

    Aw that's so nice! :)

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  14. Kim Van SicklerMarch 13, 2013 at 7:25 PM

    I love the picture of Helen. It looks like she has a secret. Maybe she'd share it with you.

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    1. Kathy Cannon WiechmanMarch 13, 2013 at 9:47 PM

      I hadn't thought of it that way. It would be cool to learn a secret from her. I have a copy of a letter she wrote to her brother between the time Jim was born & the time she died. It's the closest I've come to hearing from her.

      Delete
  15. Susan Flett SwiderskiMarch 13, 2013 at 8:17 PM

    What a beautiful thing to want to do. I know what you mean about how changing something from the past can have both good and bad consequences, but talking to your son's mother would be such a kind thing to do...

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    1. Kathy Cannon WiechmanMarch 13, 2013 at 9:49 PM

      Thanks, Susan. Changing things would be tempting, so maybe it's a good thing we don't have that power. We have to make the best of our pasts.

      Delete
  16. UnknownMarch 13, 2013 at 9:41 PM

    That picture of Helen is so haunting--- that's a good thing you want to do through the wormhole.

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    1. Kathy Cannon WiechmanMarch 13, 2013 at 9:50 PM

      Thank you. I can see the family resemblance in that haunting face, & I wish I could have met her.

      Delete
  17. Tonja DreckerMarch 14, 2013 at 3:11 AM

    That's the problem with wanting to change things, often times good and bad go hand in hand. Life is never that simple ;)

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    1. Kathy Cannon WiechmanMarch 14, 2013 at 1:28 PM

      So true. As with all things in life, we usually get a healthy dose of both, so we just have to try to focus on the good stuff. Thanks for your comment.

      Delete
  18. nutschellMarch 14, 2013 at 10:09 AM

    She looks like a lovely woman! What a sweet choice!
    Nutschell
    www.thewritingnut.com

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    1. Kathy Cannon WiechmanMarch 14, 2013 at 1:31 PM

      Thanks. I sometimes wonder how different her children's lives might have been if they had grown up with her.

      Delete
  19. Lynn(e) SchmidtMarch 15, 2013 at 7:57 AM

    This is a beautiful, beautiful wormhole. Thank you for sharing.

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    1. Kathy Cannon WiechmanMarch 15, 2013 at 3:18 PM

      Thank you for stopping by to read it & for your lovely compliment.

      Delete
  20. cleemckenzieMarch 15, 2013 at 9:15 AM

    Going back to change history is so alluring. I guess we've dreamed of it since we grasped the concept of time.

    Lovely idea you have here.

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    1. Kathy Cannon WiechmanMarch 15, 2013 at 3:21 PM

      Just going back to visit is alluring to me, too. I'd love to actually see & feel the things I've only heard or read about. But once there, it would be hard not to tinker with some changes. Thanks for your comment.

      Delete
  21. Tyrean MartinsonMarch 15, 2013 at 9:55 AM

    Life celebrations are always wonderful and bittersweet - wishing you comfort and strength!

    And Nice use of the wormhole!

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    1. Kathy Cannon WiechmanMarch 15, 2013 at 3:23 PM

      Thank you. And I wish you comfort & strength as well. Those are things that get us through the tough days.

      Delete
  22. VikLitMarch 15, 2013 at 12:04 PM

    What a lovely use of the wormhole, I am welling up thinking of that meeting you describe. And I wish you comfort in the difficult time of attending memorials, and indeed hope you find comfort in celebrating their life.

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    1. Kathy Cannon WiechmanMarch 15, 2013 at 3:26 PM

      Thank you for your wishes. Coincidently, one of those persons who passed since I wrote this post was one of Helen's other sons, my husband's brother. I believe in an afterlife, so I feel that the 2 of them, mother and son, have been reunited.

      Delete
  23. Nicki ElsonMarch 15, 2013 at 1:37 PM

    Oh that's heartbreaking. But good can come from even something so awful and I'm sure she'd love to hear how wonderful & happy her son's life would turn out.

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    1. Kathy Cannon WiechmanMarch 15, 2013 at 3:28 PM

      Thanks for saying so, Nicki. I truly believe she would. Thanks for your touching comment.

      Delete
  24. EvalinaMariaMarch 15, 2013 at 2:32 PM

    Have a lovely journey!

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    1. Kathy Cannon WiechmanMarch 15, 2013 at 3:30 PM

      Thank you. It will be a good journey, even if it's only in my mind.

      Delete
  25. UnknownMarch 16, 2013 at 2:46 PM

    I'm so sorry you attended two funerals in one week, but it's great how you're looking at the sum of their lives, not just the melancholy ending. It's beautiful you'd like to assure your MIL that everything turned out well. That's a lovely thought! :-)

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    1. Kathy Cannon WiechmanMarch 16, 2013 at 10:09 PM

      We're all a sum of the lives that touch us. I've been extremely lucky that I've crossed paths with so many wonderful people. And even though I never met my husband's mother, her life has touched me as much as any. Thanks for your comment.

      Delete
  26. UnknownMarch 23, 2013 at 7:59 AM

    You are so lovely, Kathy. I am posting a video on your FB page. It's this beautiful video with
    what-would-have-beens if MLK hadn't died, Anne Frank...

    But you are right - we should celebrate the love and lives we have been blessed to know. Big hugs to you!

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  27. Kathy Cannon WiechmanMarch 23, 2013 at 3:41 PM

    Thanks, Juliet. I look forward to seeing the video. We can't change the past, but we can learn from it & adjust the present to better the future.

    ReplyDelete

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